《Omega Point》 Prologue Out of darkness and light, born of both cradle and grave, the Sevenths champion shall rise, to break the fell-fated bonds of tyranny. Seven to become one, thy indomitable will be done. The Prophecy of the Seventh'' from the Moblog of Ptoth Satrap Osmius stood on the highest balcony of his mountain-top palace, surveying the landscape below. The ceaseless, violent storms that usually plagued the dying planet of Rixalcatros had briefly subsided for a rare moment of relative calm, offering him a clear view that stretched for miles across the desolate plains. This worlds surface, once green and teeming with life, was now barren, its biome stripped long ago. The land had been meticulously reshaped, the artificially flat plain crisscrossed with intricate, fractal-like runnels and gulleys carved deep, following the ley lines running through the bedrock. These geometric patterns spiraled out from strategic points, leading to vast boreholes that plunged down through the planets mantle. The surviving population had been herded together below, gathered in their millions like a living mosaic against the rock. They stood, silent and rigid, within their designated spots, aligned with the fractal patterns beneath them. Hands splayed wide, bodies twisted into excruciating contortions, their faces grimaced with pain. Not a single gasp or cry escaped their clenched teeth as they held the precise poses demanded by the ritual. Osmius could feel itthe air thickening above the plain, the culmination of his efforts on Rixalcatros nearing fruition. Excess Pain mana, so pure and so potent, drifted like a crimson mist from the suffering millions below, swirling upwards, coalescing into a red aura that shimmered through the atmosphere. The bulk of the energy was captured, surging downwards, towards the epicenter of the planet, intensifying with every passing day. Each one of the agonized slave-supplicants below played their part. Through the soles of their bare feet, a steady trickle of Pain flowed, seeping into the intricate network of runnels and gulleys carved into the living stone. Their agony was funneledthrough the crust and mantleuntil it reached the runic condenser buried deep within the planets core. All of his efforts, the endless conquest and the personal sacrifice, would be proven worthwhile. The destruction of yet another species and their planetary home was just another step on his Path. All to acquire one more Pain-aspected, Grade D world-core. He could feel it growing closerjust a few more days before the crystalline structure of the world-core finally condensed, ripe for harvesting. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Osmius briefly took his attention away from the vast crowd of tortured slaves below him to look inside his dimensional storage, his eyes gazing covetously at the rack of glowing world-cores within. Seven. A paltry seven was all he had managed to find so farseven suitable planetary bodies, each hosting species with the exquisitely refined sensoriums required for the ritual. Out of the thousands of newly assimilated worlds he had conquered since ascending to Grade E, only these few had been worthy. Seven species, and soon he would savor the eighth. One step closer to his final goal. Osmius thought back to the centuries of struggle that had led to this point, how far he had come since wresting control of Glogly Sector from his Vogellian swarm-brothers. At first, mere survival had been his only hope, but now, he wanted so much more. His ascension to Grade D was close, the evolution that would grant him the strength to begin his true journeyonwards towards the Core and the semi-mythical Omega Point, finally able to leave this backwater on the fringes of the System-universe. Osmiuss admiration of the suffering below was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of his Ejdar assistant, Bezoar. The irritating yet indispensable creature silently presented a tablet of scrying. Bezoar, barely reaching the knees of his towering master, was keenly aware of the strength possessed by the giant, reptilian being before him. One strike from Osmiuss grey, black-clawed hand would send him hurtling off the edge of the balcony. Hissing in irritation at the intrusion, Osmius snatched the tablet from the imp. But as he scanned the data on the screen, the irritation faded, replaced by a slow, creeping smile stretching across his wrinkled, grey face. Without lifting his eyes from the runic tablets display, he asked, When? The red, horned creature shifted nervously, despite the good news he carried. He was well aware of the capricious, unpredictable nature of his master, and the grisly fate that had befallen his two predecessors. Sensors indicate System subsumption will occur within approximately two months. We should be able to start the World Champion induction process around three weeks before that. Osmiuss eyes narrowed, his cruel smile widening. So soon! His path to ascension suddenly felt more tangible, immortality beckoning him. The words of the ancient Vogellian philosopher Erazmus came unbidden to his lips: Fate is a slave; to be mastered, it must be boldly struck and thrown down. The planet and its primitive inhabitants were perfecttailor-made for the ritual. Still fixated on the tablet and the glowing blue orb pictured on the screen, he asked in a low, deliberate tone, What do the natives call this world? Bezoars lips twitched into a nervous smile as he uttered the absurd name. Earth sire, they call it Earth Chapter One鈥擨sekaied Jeff Nostro was falling. Blue fire surrounded him, coruscating light dazzling him as he fell across huge gulfs of space, down through a sapphire beam. Where am I? Plummeting through a void at an incomprehensible speed, his confused mind was full of questions but no answers, incapable of fathoming his situation, the circumstances that led up to this, his most recent memories, unreachable. He appeared to be dropping down a beam of blue light, cutting across a vast expanse of space which stretched endlessly around him, and as he fell at a blinding speed, all around, a tapestry of stars and nebulae whirled and coalesced. Vast clouds of burning gas shot by at blinding speeds. As he gazed out through the vastness of space, a deep feeling of unreality gripped him, but strangely, no fear. Jeff spied countless other bright blue beams of light criss-crossing the star-lit darkness around him, all heading towards the same distant point, far off across the void. He dreamily imagined other travelers, suspended within their own sapphire streams of light, cutting through the night. His long descent continued. At times, his trajectory seemed to slow, almost deliberately, to give him a privileged view of the cosmic wonderland he traversed. Jeffs path momentarily aligned with a majestic comet, its massive comaa shimmering halo of gas and icestreaming solemnly past him. Further confirming the dreamlike nature of his journey, Jeff began to notice purple-edged riftstears in the very fabric of space. Through these strange windows, glimpses of huge beasts came into view. Towering tentacles, each the size of a skyscraper, coiled and writhed around distant planetoids. In one jagged purple rift, he briefly glimpsed an eye the size of a moon, calmly watching his passing. This has got to be a dream, a simulation. Maybe some kind of drug trip? Or am I in a coma, strapped to a gurneyor even dead? How could this be real? He wondered, the question repeating, reverberating through his addled mind like a refrain. Jeff found himself struggling to recall the events that had led up to this point. The haze lifted slightly and he forced himself to concentrate. Scraps of detail began to filter back through the fogslowly, his memory returned. He remembered being in a bar. Laughter, jokes, the clink of glasses. And then, a vivid imageSally. She was there. Sally. The thought of her momentarily distracted him from his predicamenther vivacious presence, that infectious laugh. Her bee-stung, cupids bow lips, hinting at some deeper sensuality. Hadnt he been working up the nerve to ask her out on a second date? His mind wandered for a while, lost in memories of her smileher bright laughterher body Where had it all started? The bar. We were drinkinggetting drunk His mind, struggling to find a logical explanation for his plight, latched on to that last memory. Thats it! Somebody slipped something into my glass this is just a dream or a hallucination. I should just go along with it until I wake up Relief washed over him, the pieces falling into place in his mind. A drug-induced trip, not total insanity. He attempted to concentrate on his immediate surroundings, to center himself, and make out what was happening in his immediate environment. The light beam he was immersed in seemed to shield him from the harsh vacuum of space, a radiant tunnel serving as a protective conduit. In the weightlessness of the beam, the concept of up and down had no meaning. He gently spun, drifting within its glowing confines. By sheer force of will, he found he could propel himself from one side of the beam to the othera sensation akin to swimmingeach mental command sent him gliding gently within the luminescent ray. Encouraged, Jeff pressed his hand against the glowing boundary of the beam, testing it. But the light formed a solid barrier, resisting his attempts to venture beyond. There was no way to exit through the beams edges into space. Time stretched onminutes blurring into hoursand still his surreal, dreamlike journey through the void continued. If this was a drug trip, shouldnt it have worn off by now? A fresh wave of panic rose within him, threatening to spiral out of control once more. As time continued to drag on, the novelty of the cosmic journey began to wear thin, his panic replaced by a creeping sense of monotony. In his dreamlike state, he found himself wondering if interstellar travel was as uneventful as flying economy on a long-haul flight. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. But then, just as boredom was about to fully set in, something unusual caught his eye. Ahead, another beam of light shot across the expanse of space, this one perpendicular to his own. Unlike the sapphire hue of the tunnel he travelled through, this beam was a vibrant scarlet, etched into the void with striking intensity. The two beams intersected in the distance, and at their crossroads, violent sparks of red and blue flared out into space. Jeff realized with a start that he was rapidly approaching the collision point. The moment he hit the intersection, Jeff was yanked sideways out of the blue beam and thrown into the red one. The transition was rough, depositing him none too gently within the crimson corridor of light. Now, he was moving fasterfar faster. The sparks of distant suns blurred into streaks of light, forming a dizzying wall of starlight that enclosed him on either side. Then up ahead, he saw itlooming in the distance, a vast, black slab of alien technology suspended in the darkness of interstellar space. A ship, its surface pocked and weathered by eons in space. On one of its flanks, an enigmatic symbol caught Jeffs eyean intricate fractal design, almost calligraphic, like neon brush strokes etched into the void. As Jeff neared the ship, a portal on its side irised open and the red beam deposited him inside, into an enclosed chamber. His celestial journey came to an abrupt end as the light winked out, leaving him standing upright within a small octagonal room, deep in the heart of the alien craft. The room was strikingly alien in design. Sigils decorated every surface, their mind-bending convolutions twisting and emitting an overpowering radiance. Though Jeff tried to focus on the patterns, his gaze was unable to fix on their strange shapes. Each of its eight walls sloped inwards, converging towards a domed ceiling which gave off a soft, ambient glow. A doorway irised open and two entities stepped through. What Jeff saw was indescribable. Something so bizarre and alien, the pair radiated such power, that his consciousness immediately shorted out, like a circuit breaker tripping to protect his brain from exposure. Disconnect Jeff slowly returned to consciousness, voices impinging on his awareness as he came to. What just happened? Jeff felt sure that something had briefly interrupted his thoughts, but he had no memory of the event. Why do you always do that? You know that these mundane lifeforms arent in a fit state to see our true forms until theyve been fully integrated into the System. We have little time left before our intercept is detected. We must begin the Selection process immediately I know, I knowIll be more careful with the next one. I promise, The voices continued their bickering conversation as Jeffs vision slowly returned. The same dreamlike feeling as before gripped him. Across the room, an elderly couple stood facing him, both draped in flowing silken robes. Their faces bore the deep lines of great responsibility, and on each of their foreheads glowed radiant runes emanating power and wisdom. The woman spoke. Look, hes returning to consciousness. Lets proceed. The pair turned to Jeff, and the man smiled, his piercing eyes blazing with a peculiar intensity. When he spoke, his voice carried authority, echoing through the small room. Jeff felt humbled as the words resonated deep within, creating an almost irresistible urge to believe. There was something in the strange harmonics of the mans tone that made him seem wise, his words rich with meaning. Traveller, do not be alarmed. As you havent yet been integrated into the System, you are not capable of viewing our true forms. The man paused and came closer, to stand directly in front of Jeff. I am Kjel, and this is my partner, Dijana. We are of the Autoch race, members of the Union of Resistance. Your thoughts have been compromised by the transit beam, but as you will shortly discover, you have been selected by a race of beings known as Vogels to be the Champion of your species, and will be required to fight in a Tournament. We have reached out and intercepted your passage through the substrate. Our interception will not remain unnoticed for long so I will speak quickly. Heed my wordsTry to process what I am saying, this is of the utmost importance. Jeff struggled to understand the man, attempting to snap out of the strange semi-conscious state he had been in since waking within the confines of the blue beam. "By creating this evil Tournament, the Vogels have manipulated the System, circumventing its controls and safeguards. This wickedness has granted them dominion over the System-universe, their ultimate goal being the subjugation of all other life. We have selected you, and others like you, to fight back, to rectify these injustices. We are offering you an unprecedented opportunity: to choose your Path prematurely, granting you an advantage in the Tournaments trials. The man finished reciting what to Jeff sounded like a pre-prepared speech. Do you understand me?" Jeff thought abstractedly about the question. If this is a hallucination, its an awfully convincing one It almost feels like a cut scene in some kind of immersive game. He began to wonder if his drug theory was correct. Could this actually be some kind of game simulation? He nodded. Yes, I understand, he said, biting back the cascade of questions he so desperately wanted to ask, reckoning it was best to play along at this stage. The old man smiled in approval. "Good. You will now be presented with eight options to choose from, eight strands of potential pulled from the wheel of Fate. Let the System reveal your Path, traveller. Choose your future Abruptly the walls began to glowthe whole room transforming into a mesmerizing display. Each of the eight surfaces of the chamber lit up, pulsating with intricate patterns and complex runes. Ethereal tendrils of inquisitive energy, almost sentient in their behavior, floated lazily forth from the walls, curving around and through him, delicately probing. They seemed to be taking his measure, analyzing and evaluating the depths of his being. Jeff was rooted to the spot and could do nothing but submit to the meticulous examination. Every facet of his character and personality was being scrutinized and dissected by a vast, dispassionate observer. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the intrusive needles of energy receded. The wall before him shifted and shimmered, its surface rippling like disturbed water before settling into a reflective, mirror-like state. Jeff was confronted with his own image, but not one he immediately recognized. Chapter Two鈥擩eff鈥檚 Path Jeffs attention refocused as Dijana, the elderly female Autoch began to speak, describing the reflection in front of him. You see before you a potential Path choice. The Rage Warrior. Embrace this Path and you will inevitably transform into a fierce berserker, a melee fighter of unparalleled ferocity, capable of entering a fearsome battle fury. What your techniques may lack in sophistication, you make up for with sheer unstoppability. Inflict devastating damage on your adversaries, while gaining resistance to physical attacks. As you level up, your brute strength will increase accordingly, turning you into an unstoppable force. Jeffs gaze was riveted to the mirror-like surface of the wall. The man reflected there was a more imposing version of himselfat least a foot tallerwith densely packed, corded muscles and wider shoulders. The most striking difference was in the face that stared back at him. Transfixed, Jeff looked into his eyes and saw pure violence within. The image felt like more than just a two-dimensional representation. The longer he studied it, the more connected he felt, as if he was being shown another, unused facet of his own personality. The towering, pumped-up reflection looked down at him, emanating an aura of of raw, untamed power. A small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth spoke of an easy confidence, an unwavering certainty born of overwhelming strength. Jeff looked up at this version of himself and was impressednot only with the rugged physique but also with the rampant potential and authority on display. The wall in front of him shifted and flexed. Jeff was presented with a scene of such clarity it was as though he was looking through a window into another world. In the image, the Rage Warrior version of Jeff stood facing an armed host on a shadowy battlefield. The antagonistsunclear silhouettes against a dim, twilight shrouded backdropwere almost inconsequential. The focus of the vision was firmly fixed on the figure of berserker-Jeff. With an earth-shattering roar that resonated with a brutal, primal ferocity, he charged headlong into the melee. Smashing through the army like a force of nature, the Rage Warrior was unstoppable. Disdaining to deploy any sort of weapon, he instead used his massive, club-like fists to break through the enemy ranks. Each furious swing of his arms shattered swathes of his opponents, like a twister blowing through a field of wheat. Rending his enemies limb from limb, a weird red light began to blaze forth from his eyes, casting a strange glow across the battlefield. The vision was so immersive, so realistic, that when it ended, Jeff felt as though he was being forcibly wrenched from one mental state to anotherhe had been the Rage Warrioran advanced format of media that Hollywood would kill for. The wall before him returned to its previous opaque state. The chamber glowed brighter once again, the octagonal panels pulsating, strobe like, the strange symbols reappearing, sending more pulses of energy through the core of his being. Jeff was engulfed in a whirlwind of sensation. Disoriented, he could not tell if the floor he stood on spun at high speed, or perhaps it was stationary, and instead the walls themselves revolved rapidly around him, like he was trapped in some strange kaleidoscopic carnival ride. The surreal display slowed to a gradual halt, and as the strobing lights subsided, Jeff was facing another segment of the chamber, and another incarnation of himself. Dijana continued, her voice resonating through the chamber once again. Behold the Path of the Weapons Warrior. The Art of War. Follow this path to attain mastery of arms. Become skilled with your personal weaponry. As you progress, your proficiency in your chosen fighting style will deepen, forging you into a formidable warrior on the battlefield. This version of himself appeared superficially similar to the base-Jeff, possibly indistinguishable to a casual observer. But Jeff detected multiple, subtle differences straight away. The man in the mirror radiated an air of lethality, and as Jeff stared at his own reflection, he saw a future path steeped in war and the art of killing. In the Weapons Warriors eyes, Jeff saw an almost monomaniacal focusthe relentless pursuit of weapons mastery. The scene shifted, and again Jeff was propelled into another immersive vision the Weapons Warrior in the midst of battle, ploughing through a phalanx of shadow soldiersruthlessly carving a path with sword and bow. Utilizing an advanced form of martial arts, alien yet fascinating to Jeffs trained eye, the Weapons Warrior obliterated a war party of three, each kick and chop deeply denting armor and snapping bone. Jeff, immersed in the vision, was gripped by a steely, almost fanatical determination to fight and to win. Once more, the walls spun and Jeff was faced with another choice. The Adept. The Way of the Cultivator. Those few travelers on this Path master the power of mana, the very life blood of the System universe. Your odyssey begins with meditation techniques and cycling to improve your pathways. By evolving your pathways and Core Space, you will progress to the pinnacle of cultivation. In this vision, the alternate version of Jeff floated serenely, cross-legged, a foot above the floor. He looked to be meditatingclouds of energy streaming and coalescing around his body, and a radiant gemstone inset into his forehead glowed a brilliant blue. Opening his eyes, he nodded at Jeff and smiled, a look of serenity and profound wisdom illuminating his features. The scene shifted. Adept-Jeff stood on a snowcapped peak, arms raised, sending green beams of pure energy cascading down into an army assembled far below. Each beam exploded with devastating power, scouring the valley down to the bedrock and laying waste to the soldiers at the base of the mountain. Another scenethe adept stood on a floating platform of some sort, soaring effortlessly across a slate-grey ocean at blinding speed. Gazing at the reflection, Jeff felt limitless potential in his grasp. If he were to practice and learn enough, he could ascend to omnipotence, becoming the most powerful entity in the universe. Again the walls revolved, and Jeff was presented with another version of himself. The Vanguards Path. You embody the essence of stealth and strategy. Vanguards are skilled in the art of camouflage, subterfuge and espionage. Hiding in plain sight, you are the perfect fifth columnist, striking your enemies from the shadows and delivering devastating blows when least expected. At first Jeff assumed there had been some sort of glitch in the mechanism of the chamberthe wall facing him appeared to be blank. But then, slowly at first, Jeff was able to detect a shadowy figure. With an abrupt pop, the Vanguard fully resolved. A slimmer, shorter version of Jeff faced him, sly cunning writ large across his nondescript features. Remarkably different in appearance from the other Path-versions, this Jeff had the uncanny ability to be both present and invisible at the same time. He winked mischievously, his eyes twinkling with secret amusement, an enigmatic expression playing across his face. The image shimmered and Jeff saw this version of himself running nimbly across the darkened rooftops of a city at night, somehow disappearing into one shadow and simultaneously reappearing in another some distance away. Eluding the guards stationed around a portcullis, he slipped through the gates into a heavily fortified castle. Once inside, a glowing nimbus enveloped him. When the glow subsided he had transformed into the shape of a stooped, elderly butler, garbed in the drab attire of a servant. He navigated his way through the labyrinthine halls and corridors of the castle with ease, unchallenged and unnoticed. Reaching the royal bedchamber, he stood for moment beside the slumbering king, before removing a small vial from his pocket. He carefully dripped poison into a beaker resting on a table by the Kings bedside. Mission accomplished, he melted into the shadows before slipping soundlessly out of the window into the night. As he watched, Jeff felt overcome by a strange sensation, one which he had not felt since childhood, immersed in a game of hide-and-go-seekthe pleasure gained from sneaking, playing tricks and pranks, dodging, weaving and general sculduggery. The walls spun once again. "The Morphon. Be at one with nature. On this Path become a master of both beast and plantmanipulate the very stuff of Life and earn the honorable ability to compel flora and fauna to do your bidding, even metamorphose into an animal or hybrid form with the Therianthropy skill. This version of him sported an animal companion, a white furred simian which perched comfortably on his shoulder, gazing back at Jeff with intelligent eyes. In the ensuing vision, the Morphon, a Beast Master version of Jeff, demonstrated his ability to command and commune with the natural world. Astride a huge scaled dragon, he soared above a battlefield, arms outstretched. Below him, the earth responded to his call as enormous vines and creepers sprouted instantaneously, erupting from the soil to ensnare the troops below. The possessed plant life tripped and entangled the soldiers, surging upwards with such speed that the enemies were soon totally submerged beneath the suffocating wave of foliage. The tide eventually receded, to reveal the skeletal remains of the army, bones picked clean by the carnivorous flora. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The scene shifted to a wintry pine forest at night, where Jeff morphed into a gigantic wolf, baying and howling up at a full moon before charging through the snow-laden trees with the speed of an express train. Jeff studied each manifestation with a growing sense of disbeliefhe was having trouble reconciling the contrast between the technological marvels he had already witnessed with the primitive, fantastical premise of the Paths. The cognitive dissonance increased still further as the visions continuedJeff began to feel the edges of his personality, his very identity, fraying and warping. The Spellsword. A traveller on the Path of Magic and Blade. Are you torn between the warriors might and the wizards mystique? Then this is the perfect choice for youa perfect synthesis of both archetypes. On this Path, you will combine weapon wielding with arcane spell casting to deadly effect. This version was Jeffs mirror image, except for a mysterious marking on his forehead which seemed to pulse with latent power. In his right hand he gripped the hilt of a massive sword, the whip-like blade easily eight feet long. His left hand rested casually by his side, fingertips glowing with eldritch energy. As the vision unfolded, Jeff the Spellsword engaged in combat with a succession of shadowy foes, demonstrating both martial prowess and a variety of magical Skills. As the room revolved yet again, Dijana introduced the next choice. Skald of the Arcane Refrain. Master the art of melody and magic. Through the medium of song, unleash powerful magical cantrips on your enemies. Instant expertise in a charmed instrument will be yourswith a repertoire of Skills to be unlocked at later levels. Wield music as a weapon. Ensorcel your foes with your siren songs. Mend and rejuvenate your allies with soothing charms. Jeff the Bard sat in a beautiful sun-dappled glade, his back against the trunk of a large willow tree, strumming a lute and humming a ditty in an unfamiliar language. The flowing silks he wore gave him a softer, almost feminine air, long blue hair coifed and curled. Jeff looked closer at the scene, surprised to see this version of himself wore a garland of flowers perched atop his head. His cheeks were rouged andwas that lipstick? As Jeff watched the scene and listened to the music, he was strangely moved by the scene. The beautiful tune the bard played reached out to him, soothing his ragged nerves and sending waves of warmth through his psyche, easing his tensions. The bard, with a glint of wisdom in his eyes, met Jeffs gaze and smiled knowingly. The vision that followed showed Jeff, the Skald of the Arcane Refrain, ensorcelling his enemies through the medium of dance, song and whispersa choreographed, stately pavane of mayhem set to a beautiful musical score. The final wall of the chamber spun into place, revealing Jeffs last choice. Magus Arcana. Harness the wizardly arts, mastering spells to weave powerful magical effects; perform alchemical rituals to create potions to both harm and heal. Specialize in Incantation, Spell Casting or Sorcery. Before Jeff stood his wizardly counterpart, every inch of him embodying the archetypal magical sage. Under normal circumstances Jeff would have laughed at the sightstereotypically, the wizard was bearded, and wore the usual flowing grey robes with a classically pointed hat. He held a long wooden staff, its tip equipped with a glowing orb. In this, the climactic vision, the robed wizard Jeff stood resolutely on a desolate hillside. Below him, a rabble of menacing, shadowy orcs surged forward. One hand held his staff aloft, the other contained an ancient tome of spells from which he read. Each word, solemnly intoned, caused a rune in the book to glow brightlywith each syllable, a bolt of vermillion flame was unleashed from the end of his staff, smiting the oncoming orcish tide. The chamber lights flared in a dazzling display, all eight walls glowing simultaneously, showcasing the eight potential Path choices. Jeff, stood in the center of the room, watching, as each of the eight incarnations processed past his view in turn. As they came into Jeffs line of sight, they each briefly nodded in acknowledgment. Jeff raising his hand to acknowledge them, accidentally found out that he with a simple swipe left and right, he could bring any of the figures before him into sharper focus. The hulking Rage Warrior with his ripped physique and aura of violence, the Weapons Warrior exuding waves of killing intent, the Adept floating in mystical serenity, the partially visible Vanguard, fading in and out of stealth mode, the Morphon with the wise arctic simian on his shoulder, the Spellsword wielding his massive blade, the Skald of the Arcane Refrain humming a melancholic tune, and the Wizard, staff aglow. The elderly Autochs approached to stand on either side of him again. Kjel gently prompted Jeff to make his choice. Choose your Path, traveller Jeff stood in the center of the chamber of choices, the weight of the decision pressing in on his hazy, dreamlike state. He forced himself to focus, pushing through the surreal fog that clouded his mind. Even if this is a dream, he thought drowsily, Ill play along. He once again studied the Paths in front of him intently, struck by the similarities between the characters and those from his past gaming experiences. Whilst playing RPGs back on Earth with friends, Jeff had typically gravitated towards some variant of wizard, liking the fantastical premise. mostly He was also drawn to the more cerebral role because he resented being stereotyped as a melee, damage-dealing DPS fighter or barbarian due to his burly physique. He pondered the implications of each choice, continuing to apply a gamers perspective to the problem. Being asked to select a player type in the real world for the first time, Jeff was reluctant to put all his eggs in the wizardry basket. From his RPG experience, he knew casters such as mages and wizards were weak, early game, lacking the physical resilience of warriors or the stealth of rogues. Jeffs gaming experience had taught him that casters were more suited for distanced, ranged attacks, while warriors tended to be found in the thick of the action, making use of their melee-based Skills. He was drawn to certain elements of the Vanguard Pathhe knew instinctively that all warfare is based on deceptionbut full-on cloak and dagger sculduggery did not gel with his personal style. In gaming, as well as in life, he had never been one to kite on the periphery of battle. The raw power offered by the Rage Warrior Path promised relentless aggression, but like the Vanguard, he felt the this choice would work best as the tank of a groupacting as a bulwark. This did not appeal to him for similar reasons to the Vanguard Pathwhile he gravitated towards direct confrontation, he preferred to work on his own. Jeff appreciated certain aspects of the Weapons Warrior Pathit offered a more nuanced fighting style, with both offensive and defensive aspects, but he eventually discounted the choice, still attracted by the allure of other, more magically fueled paths. The Skald of the Arcane Refrain Path was intriguing, but Jeff couldnt picture himself in that role. He had never played a musical instrument, and the idea of relying on singing in a sudden, violent scenariolike an ambushfelt impractical. The thought of dancing around on a battlefield in a silk kimono didnt sit right with him. It wasnt because Jeff considered himself a traditional macho type; he simply believed that chainmail or even basic leather would be more suitable. All in all, the more relaxed vibe of the Skald Path put him off. Vanguard, Rage and Weapons Warrior, Skald of the Arcane RefrainAll four paths would most likely suit a team-player, which Jeff most certainly was not. He had always been a lone wolf, even when gaming. The Morphon seemed interesting, but again, Jeff did not like to be too reliant on other entities, even pets. He discounted the Adept and Magus Arcana paths as too specialized. He felt himself drawn towards the Spellsword Paththe fusion of magical and martial prowess resonated deeply with him, but his gaze kept drifting back, intrigued by the other choices available. Still in the strange, dream-like haze, resentment began to bubble up inside Jeff. Why should I choose? Why cant I have it all? He snapped, frustration gnawing as he bristled against the shackles imposed by a single Path. Oh ho hes a feisty one! The woman laughed, a smile on her lips. The man remained silent, though a flicker of irritation crossed his face. You must choose a single Path! He demanded, his once mellow tone now edged with anger. I have a good feeling about this one, the woman interjected, her voice soft as she placed a calming hand on her partners arm. Despite the mans urging, Jeff stood firm, stubbornly digging in his heels. The more they pressed him to choose one of the eight Paths, the more defiantly he resisted. He rejected any attempt to mold him. We have to send him back! The interception will soon be detected! Kjel shouted, his voice tinged with panic. As the couple argued, an abrupt pressure filled the room, as if a third, incredibly powerful presence had entered. Yellow flashes of light flickered across the chamber ceiling, causing both of them to look up in surprise. The System! Its sending a Judgement! The woman exclaimed, shock in her tone. A glowing dialog appeared in Jeffs vision:
System Challenge Eight becomes OneBreak the Chains of Fate Complete 7 Tribulations to Rewrite Your Path Do you Accept? Y/N
Not fully grasping the situation but sensing from the Autochs excitement that this was an extraordinary opportunity, Jeff drowsily signaled his acceptance. The chamber pulsed with yellow light as the eight Path choices began glowing one by one. Kjel sighed, the relief clear in his voice. Your fate is now malleable, traveller. Henceforth, no one but you can decide your final Path. May your journey be a successful one As the Autoch finished speaking, a display window materialized before Jeff, lines of text and indecipherable symbols scrolling rapidly across the screen, flashing too quickly for him to grasp more than fragmented glimpses. Each line seemed to sear through his mind, leaving a subtle imprint, mentally and spiritually altering him in some way.
cleansing mana pathwaysaugmenting mana pathwaysCore Space upgrade successful neural alignment in progresseidetic memory function integrated bloodline integrationdecodingworkingcomplete. Dao foundations laidDao Space tether connected OptimizedOptimizedOptimized...
The red beam of light once again flooded through the chamber, engulfing him, and Jeff was jettisoned out of an airlock and away through space. The velocity of travel was staggering, far surpassing the speed of his previous journey. The sheer force of the acceleration was so intense that his senses were overwhelmed, and Jeff felt conscious slipping away from him again, the red light enveloping him dimming, giving way to darkness. Chapter Three鈥擬eeting Misty Jeff awoke abruptly, his skin slick with sweat. He found himself at one end of a vast, high ceilinged space; the walls nearest to him crafted from a muted, slate-grey metal. Cathedral-like, vaulted halls and chambers stretched off into the distance. The sheer enormity of the space rendered the far walls indistinguishable. He returned to the theory that he was somehow trapped in a simulation, a drug trip, a coma but the ground beneath him was firm. He tentatively reached down to touch the smooth, crystalline surface of the floor, feeling the material under his fingers. Every detail was precise, every texture tangible. Jeff glanced down his length, noting that he was clothed as he had been back in the bar, on Earth. Slightly faded cargo pants, combat boots and a rumpled grey shirt. Despite his journey through space and sojourn with the Autochs, a couple of stray potato chip crumbs from the bar still remained lodged in its folds. The sheer incongruity of the sight, the absurdity, was enough to dispel any remaining doubt in his mind. This was real. Looking up, Jeff noticed an ethereal, slightly pinkish glow emanating from the arched roof high above, similar in color to sunlight at dawn, despite no obvious source. Beneath him, the slick floor resembled a single vast terrazzo tile, a dazzling mosaic of diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and other unidentifiable gemstones embedded within a translucent amber matrix. Delving into his pants pockets, he did a quick inventory. As well as his phone, he found a couple of protein bars, crushed but still sealed in their original packaging, some coins, and scraps of paper. Finally he fished out his pocket knife, a cherished present from his father on his third birthday. He stood a while, unsure of his next move. The awe-inspiring, cavernous dimensions of the space he found himself in were humbling. Somehow, he felt lessened, insignificant, in the same way a primitive hominid whod been parachuted into an Apple Store might feel. A jarring blast of static and hisses erupted, not from around him, but from within him. The noise was disturbingly intimate, emanating from the recesses of his own mind. Amongst the white noise, Jeff heard words, garbled and far away, reminiscent of the sound of an ancient long-wave radio, frantically being tuned, bouncing from one elusive frequency to the next. Instinctively, Jeff dropped into a defensive crouch, eyes darting around the vast chamber, but seeing no immediate threat, he cautiously rose back to his feet. The respite was brief. Hi Jeff. Shall we begin? Jeff spun round in a circle. Floating in the air behind him was what looked like a semi-translucent soap bubble, roughly the size of a basketball. Pastel colors floated gently across its surface. Welcome to The Tournament! I am your personal assistant, a synthetic, semi-autonomous construct, tasked with guiding you through these initial stages to ensure you can compete to the pinnacle of your abilities. Pleasant soundingdefinitely female in gender the voice had an ethereal quality, too flawless to be entirely genuine. It spoke in English but its accent was elusive, hovering somewhere between the distinctions of American and British, much like the old-fashioned mid-Atlantic drawl. The alien soap bubble hung in the air in front of him, rhythmically pulsing random colors as it spoke. It continued. Would you like to begin the training? Not receiving a response from Jeff, the floating ball of light reiterated its question, annunciating more slowly, as though it was talking to an infant, or a person of low intelligence. Still receiving no response, the soap bubble changed tack, bobbing up and down slightly in the air in front of him. It continued attempting to initiate a conversation, adopting a variety of accents, ranging from a broad Australian twang to a ludicrously exaggerated, British cockney. Jeff me old mucker, Would ya loike ter start training? Lets take a butchers at your options, guvnor. Jeff suppressed the angry retort that bubbled up in him. He knew better than to lash out nowhe had to be cautious. There was no use in railing against his situationthis wasnt some fantasy novel or manga where a twist of fate or plot armor would save him at the last moment. This was real life. There was no blue pill. Instead, pausing to collect his thoughts in silence for a moment or two longer, he finally broke his silence. Er, Hi. Can I ask some questions before we start? Jeff inquired cautiously. Yes, certainly, Jeff. replied the smooth toned voice, reverting back to its initial, bland accent. Whats your name? How should I address you? Jeff quizzed the soap bubble, trying to get his bearings. I am happy for you to address me in anyway you please. Pick a name you are comfortable with. Jeff thought for a moment. How about Misty? Misty had been the familys faithful old Bullmastiff, long since passed away. Jeff had explored the Blue Ridge Mountains in his younger years, with Misty loyally padding at his side. It was a name he was familiar with, and tripped off the tongue easily. Mistys hitherto neutral voice responded, tinged with what sounded like genuine pleasure. The soap bubble vibrated slightly, almost purring. It is an honor to be named after your former canine companion, or should I say, favorite Pokemon character? Jeff was startled that the AI knew so much about his family history, not to mention the pop-culture of Earth. He had in fact named the puppy Misty after the Pokemon character, when he received her as a Christmas present. He guessed that with the tech at their disposal, no detail of his private life was out of the aliens reach. Jeff mentally shrugged and carried on with his questioning. Where exactly am I? And how did I get here? As your planet has not yet been subsumed by the System, teleportation portals or tokens are still inoperable. A slower, more primitive method of transport was utilized. The moment you were selected, you were transported via FTL wave transfer to the nearest regional Tournament center on Selis 2. Unbidden, Misty conjured a glowing screen in midair. On the screen, a disturbingly ugly reptilian creature was giving a speech to rank after rank of other seated aliens of various types, within some sort of vast auditorium or parliamentary chamber. The speaker had pallid grey skin, eyes shaped like almonds with yellow sclera and pitch black pupils set in a lemon shaped skull. In place of a traditional nose, a sinuous, wrinkled, fleshy trunk or proboscis meandered down from the center of its face. Its head was crowned not with hair, but with a ghastly yellow chitinous crest like a huge, diseased toenail. Cloaked in a simple white garment akin to a poncho, the creatures grey, muscular arms protruded on either side, large muscles layering their lengths. Its powerful limbs terminated in a trifecta of ebony claws, which it held menacingly in front of its body. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. The alien, looking down his prehensile nose at all of the attendees present, was ensconced on a grandiose throne-like, high backed chair, embellished with golden symbols, too detailed for Jeff to make out. so it is agreed. When a non-System species is detected, lower than tech level Alpha-3 on the Halix Scale, but with an aura signifying they will soon be capable of migration into adjacent systems and about to be subsumed into the System, under the rules laid out in Article 23 of the Assembly Code concerning population regulation and control, the species must be rigorously tested to ensure their genetic traits are suitable for integration into the Community. Rapturous applause greeted his pronouncement. The species will be required to submit a champion to fight on their behalf in the next iteration of The Tournament in their sector. If the champion successfully completes the required stages of the Tournament, or vanquishes all other combatants, their planet will be ushered into the Community of Equals. The ghastly creature allowed a pause for dramatic effect, then continued in a portentous voice. However, should their champion fail to survive these trials, the species will be subjugated and its planetary resources will be reaped by the Vogel Ascendancy, for the betterment of the Community. You have been selected by the System as Earths World Champion, a Contestant in the Tournament. What an honor! Jeff ignored the fake-sounding enthusiasm in Mistys tone and pressed on with his questioning. Why me? Jeff felt felt his usual good temper giving way to a rising tide of irritation, building up as he spoke. I dont remember putting my name forward for any of this shit. In a hushed tone the voice continued. The workings of the great Algorithm are well beyond the comprehension of my simple thought processes. My role is to familiarize you with the functions of the System, planning media strategies, enhancing brand engagement within the MetaWeb community, and tracking metrics to ensure we''re meeting our goals. Where are the other Contestants? How much time do I have before this Tournament of yours begins? Your fellow Contestants from this Sector, known colloquially as Glogly, are now proceeding through their own System Tutorials. New World Champions are constantly being inducted into the early stages of the Tournament as the System expands through the Multiverse and subsumes new territories. Selis? Whatwhere is that? Jeff felt an urge to identify his location, to pin down exactly how far from home he was. Selis 2 is a planetary body situated in the Outer Fringes of the System-Universe. Distances are relative outside of the System-universe, but your home planet is currently only around 700 light-years distant. Jeff sat down heavily on the gem bespangled floor. 700 light years he whispered, the weight of the distance pressing down on him. All at once he felt lost, more alone than he had ever been in his life. After a while, Jeff raised his head and started quizzing Misty some more. So let me get this straight. Jeff said, staring up at the sentient soap bubble, trying to piece together all the details and construct a timeline of events. Just before Earths System integration the Vogels swoop in and select a Candidate. i.e meI get sucked up through space, and now I am here Jeff deliberately left out the part where his transport beam was intercepted by the Autochs and his time on their ship. Yes Jeff, that is correct. You are now in the System universe, an area infinitely larger and more complex than the mundane universe you were born in. Another wave of emotion washed over him, this time homesickness tinged with worry for his family and friends back on Earth. Can I send a message back to Earth? They must be wondering where I am Your people have been informed, Jeff. The Vogels make it a point to involve all of a Contestants species when one of its own is selected for the Tournament Misty continued, her voice deliberately slow in an attempt to calm him down. As soon as you were chosen, one of Satrap Osmiuss sonstasked with welcoming new arrivals to the Glogly sectormade an announcement. Whats more, regular updates on your progress are being broadcast across your planets audiovisual communications systems. So what am I supposed to do in this Tournament? Whats the prize? Successfully complete the preliminary stages of the Tournament, or vanquish all other combatants, and win a place for your people in the Community of Equals. And if i dont complete the preliminaries? Then your planet will be seized by the Vogels and its assets will be liquidated. Your species will be subjugated and your planetary resources will be reaped by the Vogel Ascendancy, for the betterment of the Community. Jeff paled at those final words, delivered in such a matter-of-fact-way. Liquidated and subjugated. An alien invasion, then. In his relatively short life, Jeff had been content with unchallenging jobs that left him plenty of time to relax, party, and indulge his gaming obsession. He had also occasionally chased romantic interests, though rarely with much success. But recently, a growing restlessness had taken hold. He had yearned for more direction, more purpose. As he moved from his teens into his early twenties, he had assumed that would come in the form of a better jobsomething more fulfilling than the low-paid, low-stress office work he had been slogging through. Maybe even a steady relationshipperhaps with Sally His ambitions had been modest: a bit more responsibility, a clearer sense of where his life was headed. But now, things had gotten realreal fast. Instead of a gradual shift into a stable middle-aged family life and career, Jeff found himself catapulted into the most responsible role of all: Earths champion. Jeff sat a while in the silence of the huge cathedral-like hall, head in hands, eyes closed, until he was shaken from his morose introspection by a glowing blue rectangle appearing within his field of vision, directly in front of him. The rectangular info box was uncannily similar to a character sheet from a RPG game back on Earth.
NAME: Jeff Nostro RACE: Human Path: Spellsword [Hidden]Path Rewrite: 0/7 Tribulations passed HIT POINTS (HP): 10/10 EXPERIENCE POINTS (XP): 0 Strength: 1 Speed: 1 Vitality: 1 Endurance: 1 Cognition: 1 Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Total Attribute Points (TAP): 7 Unallocated Attribute Points: 10 GRADE: n/a CLASS: n/a SKILLS: n/a
Opening his eyes, Jeff continued to see the yellow dialog box. The sight, at once bizarre and oddly familiar, reminded him of some video game tutorials he had played in his youth. His mind latched on to the resemblance, his gaming experience coming to the fore. A small comfort, but he''d take what he could get. He noted the mention of a Path, Spellsword'', and its hidden aspect. Remembering the System Challenge and the words of the Autoch on the ship, he recalled that he would have the opportunity to change his Path after experiencing seven Tribulations, whatever they were. He resolved to keep this a secret from Misty for the time being. The interface can be accessed purely by thought alone. You can minimize the feed anytime you like. Alter the style and layout or add and remove content simply by willing it. Why dont you decide how to use the unallocated Attribute points? Jeff deliberated for a moment, then, putting on hold the numerous complaints and questions he had, for the time being, he turned his attention to his Character Sheet. His gaming experience dictated that he would be wise to spread the free attribute points evenly across his stats, bumping them up by one each. All except for Strength, which he decided to raise to five, reasoning that he would need it for the coming trials. He sent a mental command, allocating the free points to his Attributes. Instantly, his skin prickled and burned, a feeling of pins and needles running along the length of his body. However, as quickly as the burning sensation coursed through him, it ebbed away, replaced with an enveloping warmth and physical bliss. Vigor pulsed through his body, like a shot of some kind of super stimulant straight to his central nervous system. Each cell in his body seemed to be humming with a newfound energy, vibrating with potential. Jeff felt changes taking place at a cellular level. Thoughts racing, Jeff felt his cognitive faculties flex and expand; he found himself contemplating higher mysteriesPhilosophies that had previously been beyond his mental abilities now seemed obvious, even pedestrian.His mood much improved by the stats boost, Jeff laughed out loud in wonder and slowly rose to his feet, marveling at the newfound strength surging within his muscles. He hadnt been a weakling before; workouts and strength training from an early age had ensured he was in a good physical condition. Now though, he felt an intoxicating, almost superhuman surge of power, reminiscent of the strength of superheroes and demigods, coursing through his veins. Without prompting, the lights in the ceiling high above flashed briefly and the AI somehow materialized a meticulous recreation of his home gym equipment in front of him, identical down to the minutest scuffs and scratches. Jeff paused for a moment to goggle at the replica. Its sudden appearance brought home to Jeff once again the advanced level of the aliens technology. Eager to test his strength, he loaded every weight plate in sight. Not even breaking a sweat, he managed a deadlift of one thousand pounds, a leg press of two thousand pounds and benched two thousand five hundred, around the weight of a small car. Congratulations! You have learnt the Skill Physical Fitness (Level 1) Huh? So simply by performing an action, you could acquire a Skill. Jeff resolved to unlock as many Skills as possible, and work on leveling them up, ASAP. His thoughts turned to his Attributes some more, and he realized that the average human was probably around one for Strength. By boosting his to five he had propelled himself into the range of an elite sportsman or bodybuilder. When this is over, at least Ill be able to start a career as a weightlifter or olympic athlete, Jeff thought to himself, mentally polishing his gold medals. Mistys voice intruded into his fantasizing. Well done Jeff! Youve enhanced your stats and started on your journey of self-improvement. Would you like to select your Class now? Chapter Four鈥擟lass Selection Begin Class Selection Y/N? What does Class mean, exactly? Jeff quizzed Misty. He had a vague idea in a general, gaming context but he wanted to be sure. Classes indicate the direction of your development in the System. You will unlock different Class options each time you successfully evolve your Grade. Choose carefully, because your future Path will be affected by this choice. Future path? Jeff was about to quiz Misty further on this before biting back the question. Shes not my friend, he thought to himself. Shes merely a tool of the enemy. A cog in the Vogels machine. He resolved to try to find answers later on without revealing details of his mysterious encounter with the Autochs. He needed to be careful from now on about what he revealed to any potentially hostile entities. Jeff returned his attention to the glowing dialog in front of him. No time like the present, Jeff thought, eager in spite of everything to find out what further enhancements he would be granted after selecting a Class. Concentrating, Jeff focused on the glowing Yes, mentally accepting the prompt. For a moment, nothing seemed to be happening. Then, the wall opposite wavered momentarily and a smooth, metallic door materialized in its surface, startling him. Jeff didnt hesitate, and stepped up to the door, which soundlessly slid open to reveal a long, narrow room, bare except for a simple wooden desk at the far end. Jeff walked forward through the doorway and down the length of the room, Misty bobbing along behind him. As he drew nearer, Jeff began to make out more details. Seated behind the desk was a diminutive character, dressed in an old-fashioned style, busily scratching away at a large parchment or scroll, with what appeared to be an antique quill pen. The incongruity of the sighta quill and parchment in such a high-tech settingwas uncanny enough. The gnome-like creatures bizarre appearance truly compounded Jeffs feeling of unease. With skin the vivid reddish hue of a coke can or a chili pepper, and small, black spiraling horns sprouting from its forehead, Jeff felt a chillchildhood superstitions and primordial fears surfacing. Bizarrely, the creatureimp, devil or whatever the hell it wascontinued scratching away, engrossed in its task, still not deigning to acknowledge Jeffs presence. Misty, what is this? Are you devils? Am I in hell? Jeffs voice trembled as he desperately tried to keep a lid on his rising panic. No Jeff, you are not in hell! It is merely an Ejdar, one of the vassal species serving the Vogels throughout the System-universe. Their role here is administrative, making sure the Tournament runs smoothly. Just petty bureaucrats, not devils. Mistys smooth toned voice helped to dispel some of the tension that had been building in Jeff since he saw the little red-skinned creature. Jeff noticed a glowing yellow icon hovering over the Ejdars head, promising more information. Jeff mentally selected the prompt. You have learnt the Skill Identify (Level 1) As soon as he had gained the Skill, a new system panel popped into existence above the Ejdar with more information. NAME: Zebulus RACE: Ejdar GRADE: H HIT POINTS (HP): Hidden MANA POINTS (MP): Hidden REWARD: Hidden Misty meanwhile, continued her explanation in a light hearted vein. Pencil-pushers, not pitchfork wielders. Low level flunkies, unimaginative desk jockeys, jobsworths who simply follow ordersNothing supernatural, or even interesting about them While Misty prattled on, her gibes becoming increasingly derogatory, Zebulus had stopped writing on his parchment, and was looking progressively more and more angry, flushing an even darker shade of red with every insult. Pathetic, servile lackeys, miserable excuses for intelligent beings who prostitute themselves for favor ENOUGH! Roared the Ejdar, throwing down his quill and springing to his feet, knocking his little chair over in the process. A vein in his forehead pulsed, and his eyes flashed a brilliant shade of magenta. I will not take this disrespect from an accursed machine. Know your place, you jumped up calculator. Casting a murderous glance at Misty, he took a deep breath, visibly composing himself. I serve the Vogels, he finished pompously, returning his chair to the upright position with a flick of his wrist, and sitting back behind his desk. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Now, what do we have here? He questioned, finally turning his attention to Jeff. Not waiting for an answer, he picked up the parchment he had been writing on and proffered it to Jeff. Initial Class Selection That is the task before us. So now, lets have at it. Select your Class, human, he waved his hand at Jeff, indicating that he should take the document. With a feeling of trepidation, Jeff accepted the antique-looking parchment from the Ejdar and scrutinized it intently. To his surprise, the expansive sheet before him was totally blank. Turning it over revealed the flip side to be equally vacant. Theres nothing on it, he complained to the Ejdar, who by now had already returned to his office work, his quill feverishly scratching across a new sheet of vellum. Without bothering to look up, Zebulus grunted in an approximation of amusement. Not my concern if you have nary the wit to decipher a Scroll of Selection. Bemused, Jeff turned round and started to make his way back towards the doorway. Hold! The Ejdar barked, dont forget to take your Inventory Ring. Jeff turned back to see the little red Ejdar glaring back at him, proffering something in the palm of its hand. Jeff walked back to the desk. Resting in the Ejdars dainty, child-like hand was a large ring, made of some substance resembling silver or platinum. Its entire surface seemed to be covered in runes, etched so small Jeff would need a microscope to clearly make them out. Reaching down, he picked up the ring and stood holding it between his thumb and forefinger. Well put it on. Put it on! I havent got all day. Jeff did as he was instructed, and a new system dialog sprang up. System Inventory Ring PairingPairingPairing Successfully paired. Jeff felt the ring tighten snugly around his finger, then a new dialog box appeared.
Ring Inventory Coins: 0 Inventory Items: 0
Now exit my sanctum, and take that glorified abacus with you, the Ejdar commanded snootily, waving Jeff away. Leaving the Ejdar to his scribbling, Jeff exited the room, Misty floating along behind him. Back once again in the brightly lit hall, he glanced over his shoulder to find the door had disappeared. His only memento of the bizarre conversation was the inscrutable scroll in his hands, and the silver ring on his finger. What do I do with this, Misty? Asked Jeff, brandishing the scroll. Misty remained silent, but a strange, pulsating warmth began to suffuse the scroll in Jeffs grip. A luminescent yellow aura shone up from the surface of the parchment. Jeff peered again at the previously blank scroll and was amazed to see row upon row of beautifully hand-penned symbols appearing, luminously drawn in vivid neon-yellow ink. The scrolls glow crescendoed in tandem with the heat, until with a sudden final flash, it vanished from his grasp. Another glowing yellow system dialog appeared. Select one of the Classes that best suits you. You may request additional information on each Class before proceeding. Jeff was again presented with more choices. The three potential Classes on offer were presented in a glowing dialog box, side by side. Jeff studied the glowing boxes, his brow furrowing as his gaze glanced over each of the descriptions. Choose your Class: Arcane Duelist 1: The Arcane Duelist is a melee fighter who thrives in the thick of battle. Ever attacking, they are most comfortable when they seamlessly blend the art of the blade with the craft of sorcerya combination of lethal sword attacks with magic-based Skills. Their greatest strength lies in their mastery of edged weapons. Slicing through enemy ranks without mercy, their axiom is Be the Blade. Jeff moved on to the next choice. Battlefield Bulwark 1: Battlefield Bulwarks are the foundation stone of any fighting force, the rock upon which the enemy founders. Specializing in fortification and defensive combat, they utilize their magic to create barriers, defend their comrades and enhance armor through spells. They are also adept at harnessing restorative spells, with the ability to heal themselves and others in their party from wounds inflicted in battle. And the final box gave the following information. Dark Scout 1: Masters of stealth and subtlety, the Dark Scouts excel in clandestine activities. These elusive agents specialize in infiltration, surveillance and sabotage. Striking from the shadows, they are able to penetrate enemy defenses unawares and perform swift, surgical attacks and assassinations. Magic? What is this fairy tale nonsense Youve gotta be kidding me he mumbled to himself as he was reading. Misty, assuming Jeff had posited a question, replied. Im not kidding you, Jeff. In the System Universe, magic is a reality. Why, I believe one of your sages on Earth opined that any sufficiently advanced technology would be indistinguishable from magic. You could say that the elder races, with the supreme Vogels at their head, have reached the apex of technological development; our technology allows thought to be made reality. There is no limit to what can be achieved now. Besides, the wise and mighty Patriarch, head of the Vogel Fatherverse, has deemed that in order for The Tournament to be sufficiently challenging, a purely physical competition based on primitive violence would not be sufficient. The AI continued, obviously warming to the subject. As well as winnowing out inferior species before they can pollute the life-blood of the System-universe, The Tournament also provides entertainmententertainment being the only currency remaining of any value in our society, now that all material wants and needs can be supplied with a thought. So you would have us fight and die in your Tournament to keep you amused? Jeff said in disgust. Exactly! Im glad to see you are figuring things out so quickly. I was worried at first that Id been allocated a lesser intellect. The AI actually chortled as she spoke. Jeff mentally shelved any further objections and turned back to the scroll. OK, I see from some of the Class descriptions that I may be fighting as part of a group. Is that so? Yes, you will shortly meet some of the other World Champions, and the forming of Parties is actively encouraged. So there were two ways to win, it seemed. Either be the last one standing at the end of the tournament, or complete all the challenges, whatever they may be. As he stood, trying to get the dynamics of the Tournament straight in his head, Misty spoke in a gently chiding tone. Now, the clock is ticking and I really must hurry you along. Time to choose your Class. Jeffs decision came easily. The three Classes presented to him in some ways reflected some of the Path choices he had already been offered by the Autochs. He knew the moment he read the Arcane Duelists description that it was his best choice. The motto Be the Blade resonated with him; it symbolized not just a style of fighting but also a philosophy he endorsed. Also it perfectly matched his current Path, although he was still unsure of what benefits, if any, the Path bestowed on him. Wasting no more time, Jeff selected the Arcane Duelist option. The lights flashed, and once again Jeff felt both a physical and mental transformation sweep over him. Chapter Five鈥擳he Steel Mage Suddenly, Jeff found himself elsewhere, disembodied, hanging in the air over a vast, desolate landscapea desert completely blanketed in violet-colored sand. Above, twin suns scorched the sky, casting an eerie, double-shadowed light. Lined up in neat ranks stretching off into the distance, was a huge, ominous army. Skeletal figures fully ten foot tall, garbed in robes of impenetrable darkness, sat astride hideous winged lizards, whose scales more resembled the armor plating of war machines than living beings. Partially obscured by shadowy cowls, the riders skull-like faces gave forth an air of dark malice. Each carried a massive black bow, etched with glowing runes of power. A solitary figure stood before the assembled riders. Jeff knew, somehow instinctively, that this man was a Spellsword, a follower of the same Path as him. Scanning the man gave some more information.
NAME: The Steel Mage RACE: ? GRADE: C HIT POINTS (HP): ?????? MANA POINTS (MP): ??????/??????
Grade C? Just exactly how powerful is this guy? Jeff wondered to himself. In stark contrast to the malevolent army, the man was a beacon of serenity and composure. Dressed in simple clothing, reminiscent of that of a monk or a priest, he carried no weapons. His appearance was humanoidfine, delicate features that could be mistaken for human at first glance, but to Jeff still undeniably alien. Upon the magess brow, a single mysterious symbol blazed with power. Jeff was unable to make out the exact shape of itevery attempt to focus on the mysterious sigil caused an agonizing, straining sensation through his mind, as though he were gazing directly into the output of a weaponized laser. Although vastly outnumbered by the monstrous army assembled before him, the figure stood calmly, emanating an unassailable air. A guttural order rang forth from the commander of the deathly army, a chilling, hope-destroying sound that caused Jeff to quail. The army obeyed the command instantlya coordinated salvo of fiery arrows shot forth from a million bows, their passage scorching the air as they arced unerringly towards the figure. The man stood, unfazed, watching the countless blazing projectiles plummeting down towards him, an inscrutably calm expression etched on his face. At the final moment, with no apparent urgency, the man whispered a single word. The word, although uttered in a quiet voice, rang out across the battlefield with an unbearable resonance. Jeff felt as though his consciousness would shatter under the sheer intensity of the sound. The uttered syllable, word or sound, seemed to encapsulate the very concept of sundering or rupture. On hearing it, a damaging sensation washed over Jeff, as though the molecular bonds holding him together were on the verge of unraveling. He knew without a doubt that had he been physically present, rather than a spectral observer, he would have instantly disintegrated. The fiery arrow storm streaming towards the man suddenly halted in midair, as if colliding with an invisible barrier, then simply dissolved into a fine mist, as if the huge barrage of projectiles had never existed. The shockwave of force created by the mages utterance raced on, towards the mounted army of archers. Reacting in unison, the warriors astride their beasts chanted their own incantations, force shields of arcane energy springing up to protect them from the blast. Even with their shields up, many of them were overcome. Fearsome wounds appeared across their bodies, as if carved with invisible blades, and their mounts reared up, shrieking in agony. Raising his hand in the air, the man spoke again, a single word. As he finished intoning the power laden syllable, he brought his hand slashing down through the air in a swift, vertical arc, the rune on his forehead flashing brightly. The word he spoke seemed to encapsulate the very concept of incision. A tapestry of images flashed through Jeffs mind blades, honed to molecular sharpness, razors cleaving through the the hardest possible substances, and the potential lethality of all things keen-edged. It was as if he could feel the sensation of a rapier puncturing an impervious shield, an axe splitting through a mile-wide diamond, a sword ceaselessly cutting through the very fabric of reality. The real-world effect was devastating. The entire army was destroyed instantly. Obliterated. It was as though they had been carefully sliced from top to bottom into an endless array of infinitesimal slivers. No blood, no cries of pain, just a haunting silence as the entire battlefield was scoured clean. However, the spells reach wasnt confined just to the annihilation of the army. Even the ground on which they had stood suffered a cataclysmic upheaval. A colossal chasm yawned open, splitting the earth asunder. The chasm gaped wider and wider, the unstoppable seismic forces unleashed were so immense they continued to rend the planets tectonic foundation. Down through bedrock, crust, and into the mantle, the power of the Word Made Blade split the world in two. Jeff hung suspended above the chasm, looking down, into and through the molten core of the planet, a planet which was rapidly falling into two pieces below him. Like a cosmic apple neatly sliced down the middle, the two separate halves of the world tumbled away from each other, spinning off into space and out of their orbit, drifting towards the twin suns in a fatal spiral. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Amidst the devastation, the Steel Mage floated, eyes closed, in the vacuum of space, an inexplicable look of contentment on his face. When his eyes opened, they locked onto Jeff, as if he were staring directly at him. Always remember, he said, his voice full of a supreme calmness and certainty. The most important thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemyno matter the means. Class Selection Successful. Arcane Duelist 1 Jeff awoke, sprawled prostrate across the cool tiled floor. Stumbling to his feet, still disoriented from the vision he had just experienced, he reflected on the awesome powers he had witnessed. The thought that he could one day wield such destructive power seemed incredible. But reminding himself that Earths destiny was resting on his shoulders, he resolved to try. He once again returned his attention to the system interface, now showing various new statistics.
NAME: Jeff Nostro RACE: Human HIT POINTS (HP): 80/80 MANA POINTS (MP): 70/70 Path: Spellsword [Hidden]
  • Path Rewrite: Awarded if 7 tribulations are completed.
  • Tribulations passed: 0/7
GRADE: J, Level 1 CLASS: Arcane Duelist 1SKILLS:
  • Physical Fitness (Level 1)
  • Identify (Level 1)
CLASS SKILLS:
  • Infinite Sword (Level 1)
  • Cutting Edge (Level 1)
ATTRIBUTES:
  • Strength: 5
  • Speed: 2
  • Vitality: 2
  • Endurance: 2
  • Cognition: 2
  • Offense: 2
  • Defense: 2
  • Total Attribute Points: 17
  • Unallocated Attribute Points: 0
Grade J bottom of the ladder. Shuddering, he recalled the God-like power of the Steel Mage, a Grade C entity. Still, in spite of his beginner rank, Jeff felt more powerful than ever. Confidence surged through his veins. He ran his tongue between his teeth wonderingly. What the hell? The edges of his canines and incisors seemed to be sharper, longer. His back teeth were broader and more defined as well. Running his tongue around his mouth, he probed a molar, expecting to feel roughness, only to find a smooth expanse of enamelthe filling he had received in his teens was gone. Clamping his mouth shut and rubbing his chin and mouth, he noticed his jaw seemed wider, and more muscularmore chiseled. A sense that he had been transformed in some way, improved again, washed over him, bringing the same spontaneous burst of exhilaration. The rush of energy to his body and mind caused him to involuntarily whoop out loud with pleasure. Hell Yeah! He shouted out, his voice ringing across the vast room. I could definitely get used to this, Jeff thought, a broad grin spreading across his face as he basked in the warming, post-evolutionary glow. It seemed that either entry into the System and its Grading, Class selection, or the mysterious Path he was walking had honed him, sharpened him with certain blade-like characteristics. Staring down at his hands, he noticed how pointed his fingernails appeared. He had always kept them neatly trimmed in the past, but now they were longer, almost talon-like. Well done! The transformation was successful! Your Class is set for the duration of this Grade. You have also been bestowed with a pair of very useful Skills by the system. As you progress, new Skills will be bestowed on you as rewards by the System. As you earn Coins, more Skills will also become available to purchase from the Tournament Store. And as you gain Omega Energy, you level up. Of course, the only way to gain Omega Energy and progress is to achieve. For this reason we will proceed with the tutorial shortly, in order for you to become proficient with the System. Jeff was struck once again by the similarities with Earthly gaming conventions. The concept of Omega Energy seemed extremely similar to XP. Before moving on on to Tantalus, you are required to complete twelve different stages, in any order, as well as defeating a Training Mini-Boss. The four stage types are Puzzle, Action, Combat and Skill. While he felt the urge to get the Combat stage out of the way immediately, he reasoned it would be better to hold off until he had become accustomed with his new Skills. Fortune favors the brave, but fools rush inBest to start with the safer options before attempting anything dangerous. He decided to get more intel before proceeding. What is a Path, Misty? Jeff asked, attempting to project an innocent tone into his voice. A Path? Misty repeated, a note of suspicion creeping into her voice. Where did you hear about Paths, Jeff? Crap Jeff realized that he had made a mistake immediately. Backpedalling, he prevaricated. I think I heard something about it in a vision I had after I selected my Class he mumbled. A Vision? You had a Vision! This is wonderful news Jeff. Visions are not something that players of your Grade often getsThis indicates the System is taking a special interest in your progression. This should help your viewer ratings greatly. To answer your question, a System-dweller can usually select a Path at around Grade F, so a long way to go for you yet, Jeff. Paths help you gain further Dao insights and are pivotal in making the leap to Grade D and immortality. Jeff quickly changed the subject. Remembering Mistys previous comment about his newly acquired Skills, he returned to his stat console and looked at the Skills section of the display. He saw that he had indeed been allocated two new Skills by the System. Jeff attempted to select the [Infinite Sword] Skill and waited. And waited. Nothings happening You need to use the Skill in conjunction with a weapon to activate it. Jeff, lacking anything better in the way of a weapon, pulled out his pocket knife from his pants pocket and held it in front of him. Once more he activated the Skill. As he waved the short blade in front of him in an arc, a shimmering, surreal line of light appeared at its edge, emanating outwards. Jeff heard a swishing sound, as if a host of blades was being swung in front of him. You have cast [Infinite Sword] Apart from the unearthly sound and the system notification in his HUD, there was no other effect. Jeff did notice however that a bar had appeared in the corner of his vision, showing that his MP had been depleted by the maneuver, dropping from 70 to 50. Disappointed at the underwhelming Skill, Jeff was about to put his knife away when Misty abruptly spoke up. That Skill requires targets in order to fully observe the effect. Prepare to enter Combat Training. By the way, this feed is being broadcast live on your home planet and throughout the Metaweb. The training environment is generated from your memories as well as data harvested from your races media and collective unconscious. This will improve the training environment and increase audience engagement. Hold on a secondI thought I got to choose! Jeff said, alarmed at the sudden announcement by the AI. Misty was deaf to his further protestations. A flash of light was followed by a grinding noise from beneath him, and the floor dissolved, sending Jeff plummeting downwards into a black void. Chapter Six鈥擜ll the Fun of the Fair Jeff regained consciousness, finding himself lying spreadeagled on a ground composed of compacted dirt and gravel, strewn all about with discarded potato chip bags, candy wrappers and crumpled soft drinks cans. The air was coldstray flakes of snow began to drift down around him as he slowly got to his feet. He appeared to be in a disused fairground, shrouded in a darkness relieved only by a few twinkling bulbs strung haphazardly around the rides. The area was modest in size, about the dimensions of a baseball diamond, with dilapidated painted clapboard sidings defining its boundaries. The space was cluttered with all of the things you would expect at a faira rusting ferris wheel on one side, a gravitron on the other, a hall of mirrors, a haunted house, and a softly glowing arcade filled with retro video games. A magic teacup ride completed the ensemble. Jeff slowly got to his feet and looked around warily. A grinding noise sounded from the teacups as they suddenly lurched into movement, their bearings partially fused. Another disturbance across the fairground got Jeffs attention. He could just make out six figures slowly moving in his direction. As they drew closer, the sound of a revving engine cut through the clatter of the rusty ride. Squinting through the poorly lit gloom, Jeff began to make out more details. Six peculiar characters slowly shambled towards him, one of them twirling a gas powered chainsaw in the air, round and roundthe cause of the racket. A glowing yellow nimbus, the same color as the system dialogs, hovered over their heads, indicating more information was available. Receiving no response to his continued objections from Misty, Jeff squared his shoulders and prepared for combat. He focused on the central figure of the group and selected [Identify]. NAME: Leetus Nakraz RACE: Goblin, Grade J HIT POINTS (HP): 30/30 +10 MANA POINTS (MP): 10/10 REWARD: 10 Coins Goblin? More information was available when he focused on the creatures race. Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dungeon Denizens, or CHUDDs for short. This sub-species of goblin is extremely territorial in nature, and tend to hunt in packs. These troglodytic, inbred mutants are infamous for their cruelty, and have been known to torture their prey for weeks before murdering and consuming their flesh. Yikes, thats disturbing, Jeff thought as he read the description. There was no mention of Classes, Paths, Skills or a breakdown of the creatures Attributes in its info panel, so Jeff assumed that this wasnt information made available by the System. Jeffs heart beat loudly in his chest and his hands began to shake, a combination of the low temperature and nerves. He studied the goblins more closely. As the group came into view, he was overcome once again with the feeling he was trapped in some kind of drug-induced nightmare. The creatures were bipedal, up to his shoulder in height, with features so exaggerated they were almost cartoon-like. Their greenish, dirt encrusted skin sported bad tattoos, and they were clothed in a wild variety of ill-fitting clothing, from muddy farm-wear to leather biker gear. With grotesque and misshapen bodies, hunched postures and uneven strides, they reminded Jeff of a group of fentanyl addicts he had once seen walking down a street in San Francisco. Despite their uneven gait, the pack still managed to move forward with a clumsy, unsettling determination. As they shambled closer, Jeff was able to make out more detailstheir gaping mouths revealing rows of razor sharp fangs, and their knobbly fingers ending in vicious black talons. They were a strange mashup of standard fantasy-genre goblins and stereotypical hillbilly rednecksthe bizarreness of the spectacle heightened even more by the dimly lit carnival background through which the the group marched. Jeff recalled Mistys words earlierhow his System-generated opponents in the training stages would be based on Earths culture, drawn from some sort of racial collective unconscious, as well as his own memories and social media feeds. He guessed that these distorted caricatures were supposed to resemble, in some way, the backwoodsmen he had lived amongst in his youth, deep in the remote mountains of North Carolina. Huh. Green skinned rednecks Jeff thought to himself as the pack of goblins approached. The chainsaw-wielding goblin in the center of the pack was particularly disturbing. Its face was obscured by a human-leather maskpatches of skin crudely stitched together from several different victims, judging by the varying tones. Behind the rough eye holes, two glowing red orbs blazed malevolently, promising nothing but malicious intent. Two smaller goblins lumbered ahead of the group, slack jawed and bleary eyed, yipping and babbling in high pitched voices, their matching mesh trucker hats sat precariously atop their pointy ears. The revving of the chainsaw echoed hollowly behind them, its discordant rumble jarring against the grinding din of the teacup ride. Disconcertingly, to add to the general noise level, the traditional folk song, House of the Rising Sun suddenly blasted out from the Gravitron, the sound distorted as if through bad speakers. ??There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun ?? Startled briefly by the music, Jeff looked around wildly, momentarily distracted from the encroaching threat. Then, remembering his newly acquired Skills, he fished his pocket knife out and leveled it at the two rapidly approaching goblins. He activated [Infinite Sword]. This time, as well as hearing the sound of blades whooshing through the air, he saw an immediate effect, albeit at a relatively short range. You have cast Infinite Sword You have struck a Grade J Goblin with your Infinite Sword Skill You have injured a Grade J goblin You have struck a Grade J Goblin with your Infinite Sword Skill You have injured a Grade J goblin Your Offense Attribute has risen by 1 While the four goblins bringing up the rear were unaffected by the Skill, multiple small wounds appeared across the bodies of the two closest monsters, as though they had been lashed by an invisible whip. By chance, the shoulder straps holding up the bib overalls of the rightmost attacker were cut through, causing his pants to fall down around his ankles and trip him. It lay on the dusty, trash strewn floor, struggling to disentangle itself, temporarily immobilized. You cut me moaned the other, blood dripping from shallow wounds on its torso and arms. A glowing Health bar had appeared directly over the goblin, revealing its HP had been reduced by 30% as a result of the Skill-based attack. Roaring in rage, the injured creature charged at full speed towards Jeff, its grubby trucker hat flying off as it approached. Firming his shoulders in readiness, Jeff decided to try out [Cutting Edge] for the first time. He waited until the goblin was right upon him and then mentally activated the Skill, while holding the knife in a reverse grip and slicing downwards. The blade crashed point first onto the top of the bald, pockmarked head of the approaching figure. ?? Go tell my baby sister Never do like I have done ?? Get some, you scabby freak! Jeff shouted, anger and frustration with his general situation adding extra power to the thrustthe pent up resentment and righteous indignation bubbling away at the back of his consciousness finally finding an outlet. The result was spectacular; he was both amazed and horrified when the little knife sliced vertically all the way through the goblins skull and face with no resistance - the creatures head and neck were completely split down the middle, providing an anatomical cross-section view of its brain. You have struck a Grade J Goblin with your Cutting Edge Skill You have critically injured your target Jeff was rewarded with a tinkling, ringing sound, reminiscent of the payout noise an electronic slot machine makes when you hit the jackpot. In the corner of his vision a cascade of stylized golden coins rained down. Jeff was momentarily distracted from the encroaching threat of the remaining goblins by the gory spectacle of the partially bisected corpse. To make matters worse, his vision was partially obscured by an annoying System dialog congratulating him on his victory. You have successfully used a Skill to slay an enemy! Reward: One Omega Energy Point You have Successfully Killed a Grade J Goblin Reward: Two Omega Energy Points, 10 Coins Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 2 You have successfully used your Cutting Edge Skill to slay an enemy! Reward: One Omega Energy Point, 10 Coins Your Offense Attribute has risen by 1 As soon as Jeff made the kill, he felt itan invigorating surge of warmth, a confidence-boosting rush of energy flooding his body. He guessed this was the Omega Energy flowing into him. Distracted by the unfamiliar sensation and the deluge of System-generated messages obscuring his vision, Jeff failed to notice the chainsaw wielding CHUDD bearing down on him. Almost too late, he recovered and grappled with the creature, nearly tripping over a discarded pizza box on the floor. Regaining his balance, he barely managed to prevent the goblin from bringing the spinning blades of the saw down on him. You have evaded a Goblins attack Your Strength Attribute has risen by 1 Meanwhile, Leetus had flanked him, approaching from the other side and latched on to him with a bear hug. Lowering its head, it hissed in Jeffs ear, a terrible stench emanating from its gaping, snaggle toothed maw before biting down savagely. Its viciously sharp fangs sliced through the unprotected flesh of Jeffs shoulder, inflicting a serious bite wound, from which copious amounts of blood immediately began to flow. A Grade J Goblin has critically injured you Jeff, let out an involuntary yellthe pain was so intense his vision whitened and he teetered on the edge of unconsciousness. Through the searing agony of the shoulder wound, his mind fumbled for a solution, desperately trying to recall his childhood martial arts training. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. A memory surfaced, vivid and clear, of a particularly grueling training session with his father. They had been sparring for what felt like hours, and Jeff, exhausted, was ready to throw in the towel, resentful of the harsh daily regime his father had imposed. His father had stood over him, his face bearing a stern, peculiarly intense expression. Dont just lie there, like some quivering, milquetoast soy boy! he had barked, his voice rough. Get back up! Never stop pushing forwardeverything depends on it. There had been a brief, unexpected pause, as if his father was lost in some private reverie. His tone softened, as his gaze grew distant, almost uncertain. Youre not like the rest, Jeff. Youre special. Youre a Nostro! Hell, Ive tried my best At the time, Jeff had felt a pang of guilt for his whining, forcing himself to rise and push harder. Now, that memory resonated within him strongly, serving as a lifeline. Summoning his remaining strength he rallied, bending his knees slightly, he pivoted his hips while swinging his elbow back into Leetus face, connecting hard. He felt the goblins nose break with a satisfying crunch. Pulling forward slightly, he stumbled away, creating some space before turning to deal with the other approaching goblin. Congratulations! You have learnt the Skill High Pain Threshold (Level 1) Taking a gamble on the creatures anatomy being comparable to humans, he launched a kick at the approaching chainsaw-wielding goblin, hitting his target directly between the legs. The mob staggered backwards, letting out a high pitched wailits junk smashed to smithereensgiving Jeff valuable seconds to retreat a safe distance from the rest of the goblin pack. You have inflicted heavy damage on two Grade J Goblins Your Defense Attribute has risen by 1 Concentrating for a moment, he managed to banish the annoying system messages from his sight. He was losing blood rapidly, a steady flow pumping out of the wound on his shoulder and streaming down his arm, causing him to almost lose his grip on the now slippery handle of his pocket knife. ??I''m going back to New Orleans, My race is almost run?? The goblin hed injured had recovered quicker than Jeff had hoped and was lumbering towards him. Still holding his knife in a reverse grip, he employed a Systema Spetsnaz knife fighter move, and swung at the wounded but still mobile goblin, simultaneously triggering the [Cutting Edge] Skill to no effect Belatedly, Jeff realized that he was completely out of mana. Jeff followed through with the attack anyway, bringing his arm down in an arc. Even without the Skill enhancement, he managed to inflict a serious wound to the top of the creatures arm; his enhanced strength cutting through to the bone, causing the creature to drop the chainsaw, which continued to spin wildly, skittering out of control across the trash-strewn fairground floor. You have struck a Grade J Goblin a glancing blow, dealing 5 damage Jeff was about to step in to administer a killing blow, but Leetus had risen back to its feet, and was fast approaching. Hissing in furyits mouth and lower face smeared with blood, its nose a bloody ruin in the center of its snarling faceit staggered towards Jeff, arms outstretched like a ghoul from some awful B-movie. Jeff pivoted on the back of his left heel and countered the goblins charge with a roundhouse kick, planting his foot in the middle of its forehead and knocking it to the ground once again. Not giving the goblin an opportunity to recover, Jeff stepped forward and slashed diagonally down with his blade, inflicting a deep gash through the creatures neck. The goblin lay still on the floor, bleeding out. Keeping up the momentum, Jeff swung his leg back, striking out with a well placed boot. The blow from his heavy boot detached the goblins head from its body completely. Red baseball cap still attached, the leering head rolled several yards away. Blood spurted furiously from the torso at his feet like a lawn sprinkler, soaking his pants. Once again the stylized slot machine payout sound rang out and more coins cascaded down the right side of his vision. Congratulations! You have learnt the Skill Combat Proficiency (Level 1) You have killed a Grade J Goblin Reward: Two Omega Energy Points Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 3 The other goblin was bending down, struggling to retrieve the still-spinning chainsaw with its remaining good arm. Stepping forward and thrusting from the waist with his knife, Jeff preemptively skewered it neatly through the eyehole of its leather face mask, causing the red light in the other eyehole to flicker and die out. You have killed a Grade J Goblin Reward: Two Omega Energy Points Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 4 Jeff detected a movement at his side and Goblin number four hove into view, lunging at him, claws outstretched. This one seemed to identify as femalewearing nothing but a dirty pink tutu, with faded blue ribbons peeking disconsolately through its matted rats nest of hair. The sight incensed Jeff for some reason. What kind of mind-game was the System playing, messing with his head like that? Its flabby dugs flapping wildly, the she-goblin flew through the air towards him, shrieking. Jeff evaluated the incoming threat and sent his knife hand lashing out, striking the goblins arm and tracing a crimson arc from wrist to shouldera shallow gash that sent it reeling back, spitting and cursing. Seizing the moment, Jeff advanced, closing in for the kill, unaware that another enemy, sensing an opportunity, had circled behind him. Whack! The encircling goblin lashed out with a bony knuckle, striking him hard on the back of the skull. Jeff saw stars for a moment, staggering on the spot, vision blurring. Blinking back tears, he shook his head, trying to rouse himself. Spinning around blindly, he stuck his elbow out, hoping to connect. With an audible crack, Jeffs elbow impacted with the goblins forehead, caving the front of its head in. It was dead before it even hit the ground. Without pausing, Jeff dived at the wounded female goblin, landing a devastating barrage, pummeling the creature mercilessly with his fist whilst stabbing it repeatedly in the guts with the shining blade in his other hand. Lights out. Combo! You have killed 2 Grade J Goblins Reward: Five Omega Energy Points Your Offense Attribute has risen by 1 Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 5 You have reached Level 6 Jeff stood panting in the center of the fairground, surrounded by the sprawled corpses of his goblin attackers. His breathing came in ragged gasps and he began to feel the onset of shockWincing, he glanced down at his shoulder, where the jagged wound bled freely, a dark red stream dripping steadily down onto the dusty fairground floor. Groaning in pain, Jeff tore off the damaged sleeve of his shirt, the fabric soaked in blood. Gritting his teeth, he wrapped the bloody length of cloth tightly around the wound, pulling it taut to try to stem the flow. Assuming the combat training was over, he was just about to relax when a sudden movement from the gravitron caught his eye. With a thunderous crash, a large section of the ride collapsed, its metallic front cover falling forward to reveal another group of six CHUDDs, steadily advancing towards him. Youve got to be kidding me! Jeff raged at the air before resignedly turning to face the new threat. Without conscious thought, Jeff attacked. Adrenaline surged through him, and bellowing in homicidal rage, he charged towards the gaggle of goblins, storming in amongst them and showing no mercy. For some inexplicable reason, the attackers this time were all identically dressed as hobo Santas, their dirty red polyester costumes coordinated with fake white beards. A red mist descended. Standing amongst the pack, he unleashed a blizzard of strikes and kicks, inflicting some serious damage on the throng before they could begin to mount their own attack. You have killed a Grade J Goblin Reward: Two Omega Energy Points Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 7 Despite the pain of his shoulder wound, and despite the mortal danger he knew he was in, a surge of exhilaration overtook him. Jeff felt somehow energized, adrenaline raced through his bodyhe felt more alive than he ever had before. He fell into a fluid, almost choreographed series of movements. Each stab, parry, kick and push seemed to follow naturally. Grappling, lashing out and stabbing like a berserk killer, he attacked. Grabbing one goblin by its long greasy hair, he spun it round to crash into another, entangling them in a confused pile. A well-placed kick was followed by an elbow to the throat of another of the green skinned freaks. You have killed a Grade J Goblin Reward: Two Omega Energy Points Your Offense Attribute has risen by 1 Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 8 No sooner had he cleared the group of goblin Santas than a rumbling sound issued from the entrance to the hall of mirrors. Another horde of goblins emerged, all inexplicably dressed as Japanese schoolgirls, snarling and charging towards him with claws extended. Jeff had almost anticipated this and again went on the offensive, charging straight into the darkened structure to confront them, the distorted reflections in the mirrored walls adding horrific detail to the surreal experience. Within the hall of mirrors, Jeff lost himself to battle. Time seemed to slow down around him as he was surrounded by twisted reflections and shadowy shapes. Liquid steel ran through his veins his body was on fire but his mind was coldly calculating, plotting his next move. The little pocket knife in his hand became an extension of his body, a lethal appendage.
System Challenge: Eight becomes OneBreak the Chains of Fate Complete 6 More Tribulations to Rewrite Your Path (Weapons Warrior) 1/7 Complete
Jeff grinned to himself as he fought, adrenaline pumping. The satisfaction of having passed the first Tribulation of the System Challenge bolstered his confidence. The vivid image of the warrior from his Class selection Vision, and the strange rune of power on his forehead, saturated his thoughts. Jeff felt an echo, a clue beginning to emerge at the edge of his consciousness as to the nature and potential of the mans power. And the power he wielded seemed to call out to him. You have killed a Grade J Goblin Reward: Two Omega Energy Points Your Endurance Attribute has risen by 1 Jeffs senses heightened, becoming instinctively aware of the location of each and every one of his assailants. His movements gained a cutting precision, and the small blade in his hand took on a new dimension of lethality. With newfound agility, he sliced through the assembled mob like a white-hot knife through the softest of butteronly in this case the butter was a pack of snarling goblins. A set of claws raked through the air, narrowly missing Jeffs face. Another goblin, jumping from behind a cracked mirror, landed on his back, attempting to bite down on his already injured shoulder. Jeff, reaching back, stabbing directly into the monsters ear, piercing its brain with his knife. One dived across the mirrored room and grabbed Jeff around the upper thigh, clinging on, trying to bring him down. A swift upper-cut knocked the creatures head back like a pez-dispenserdiscolored teeth clattered, tinkling across the floor, and the goblin was out for the count. Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 12 Lips curled back in a feral snarl, Jeff continued to carve a wave of destruction. A cold heat, razor-sharp waves of battle intent seemed to spike outwards, permeating the area around him. His gore soaked knife was still firmly gripped in his hand, the whole arm now soaked in dark red goblin blood. Even his hands had become deadly weaponshis fingernails transformed into talon-like blades, razoring through the flesh and sinew of the remaining enemies. The goblins seemed to be losing in strength and potency as his strength increased. He grappled with one and was surprised at how easily he held it off compared to those in the first wave. Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 17 Towards the end of the fight, Jeff began to grow aware, almost instinctively, of the precise pressure points on the goblins bodies that would cause the most damage. Sometimes, a well-placed strike was enough to trigger a lethal delayed effect, a combination of acupressure-inspired blows subtly disrupting their pathways, damaging vital organs and putting them out of action for good. Congratulations! Your Combat Proficiency Skill has now reached Level 2 You have been awarded a new Sub-Skill: [Unarmed Blade] Level 1 "Thats not a knifeYour hands are classed as lethal weapons in their own right. Jeff moved further into the hall of mirrors, hunting for his next target. A flicker in the corner of his eye, distorted reflections from the mirrors all around indicating a presence, but Jeff could not tell from which direction it was coming. His eyes narrowed slightly and he adjusted his stance, crouching slightly, waiting. A goblin, larger than the rest, charged at him from behind, roaring in anger. Clutched in its hand, a white bladed weapon of some kind was raised high. Just in time, Jeff dodged to one side and spun on his heel to face the new threat, but the creature had already melted back into the shadows, and all he could see around him was distorted reflections of his own face. Deciding to change the narrative, Jeff used his fist to smash the mirror next to him, clearing some space. He moved swiftly around the room punching and kicking all the remaining surfaces until all he saw was darkness. The boss goblin charged straight at him, bellowing. The creatures bellow subsided into a gurgle as Jeff deftly blocked its strike with one hand, and slashed open its throat with the knife in his other. Blood sprayed across the mirror shards as the goblin crumpled lifeless to the floor. Jeff stood panting, surveying the fairground, waiting for another wave of attackers, but none came. The combat training appeared to be over. The floor was strewn with mutilated goblin corpses, blood and gore spattered across the rides and amusements. His exhilaration dissipated, the adrenaline rush slowly fading to be replaced by a feeling of hollowness. Of the eighteen goblins Jeff had faced in the battle, only one goblin still remained alive. It was from the first wave, the goblin he had immobilized with [Infinite Sword]. The creature was still rolling about on the floor, its legs tangled in its overalls, flopping uselessly. Jeff stood over it, panting, about to bring the heel of his boot crashing down. Suddenly he paused, struck by the spectacle before him; the young goblin peering back up at him from its supine positionrendered harmless by its wardrobe malfunctionseemed almost pitiful to Jeff. Fascinated in spite of himself, Jeff took a moment to study the creature in more detail. His eyes travelled the length of the goblins body. The attention to detail was astounding, from the bad mullet hairstyle from which two goblin ears poked forth, down to the crude tattoos covering its torso. The goblin stopped struggling and stared up at Jeff malevolently. Leetus was my best friend and you killed him Im''a gonna get you back for that, you hear? Jeff stared down at the goblin in disbelief, still feeling some qualms about killing the creature in cold blood. Misty, this thing seems very realistic to me. Jeff spoke, without taking his eyes off the struggling goblin. Does it feel pain? No Jeff. Replied the AI. Tournament training environments are not as detailed as actual System-generated dungeons, where the denizens are advanced avatars of real-world entities. They are merely simulators of a sort. Mobs generated here are constructs, like in your video games. Think of them as something like non-player characters. Jeff continued to hesitate, unable to bring himself to kill in cold blood. We cannot move on to the next stage of the tutorial until all the targets are eliminated. Jeff reminded himself that he was in a battle for the survival of his entire species. He was somewhat reassured when he took another, deeper look at the creatures face, noting that the eyes peering back at him were empty, lacking some vital sparkdefinitely the sign of an NPC. Strengthening his resolve and stifling any moral misgivings, he repeatedly stomped on the goblins snarling face, not stopping until his boots were completed caked in grey, jelly-like brain matter. You have killed a Grade J Goblin Reward: Two Omega Energy Points Reward: 10 Free Attribute Points Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 18 You have successfully completed your first combat challenge! Your Strength Attribute Has Risen By 2 Your Speed Attribute Has Risen By 2 Your Vitality Attribute Has Risen By 2 Your Endurance Attribute Has Risen By 2 Your Cognition Attribute Has Risen By 2 Your Offense Attribute Has Risen By 2 Your Defense Attribute Has Risen By 2 As before, coins poured down the right side of Jeffs vision, and the final strains of the famous folk song faded out. ??I''m going to spend the rest of my life, Beneath that Rising Sun ?? Chapter Seven鈥擨n the Spotlight Bathed in the harsh glare of the studio lights, Sally felt sweat beading on her forehead as the technicians and TV crew bustled around her, preparing for that nights transmission. Since the earth-shattering arrival of the alien ship over Washingtonand Jeffs surreal transportation to the Tournamenther life had been turned upside down. Immediately after Jeff had been beamed up from the bar in Manhattan, interrupting their date, Sally had been arrested by federal agents and taken to a high-security government office. There, she had been subjected to several hours of vigorous interrogation, that left her feeling more like a suspect than a witness. It wasnt until the other people in the bar confirmed her story that the oppressive atmosphere began to lift. In fact, Sallys fortunes changed dramatically that night. Her official status as Jeffs date had come with certain perks. She had been granted the keys to a luxurious penthouse grace and favor apartment overlooking Central Park. She was on the payroll toosome sort of government salary as a consultant, thanks to her unique connection with Jeff. Sally had seized the moment, quickly making use of her social networking knowledge to tout herself as a preeminent expert on all things Jeff and the Tournament. Her new role had also catapulted her into the limelight, making her a hot commodity in media circles. As a result, she was on tonights high-profile Tournament discussion panel. Her anxiety was complex: She was, of course, worried for herself, as the Vogels had made it painfully obvious that Jeffs failure would result in disastrous consequences for everyone on Earth. Subjugation by the Vogels did not sound like fun at all, especially for a woman. But Sallys concern wasnt just global; it was also personal. Since meeting Jeff at a party the year before, she had developed a genuine fondness for him. His wry sense of humor and easygoing nature appealed to her, and she counted him as a friend, perhaps if things had worked out differently, their friendship could have developed into something more She had therefore taken it upon herself to be Jeffs digital guardian on social media. The internet was rife with all kinds of toxic chattervile conspiracy theories, baseless speculation and outright lies about Jeff, and by extension, the fate of Earth. She was currently locked in a vicious war of words with one such troll on the social media platform, X. Operating under the pseudonym Pyrrho, he or she had built up a sizable following amongst the cynics and skeptics by peddling fake news about Jeff. Sally was all too aware of how high the stakes were. It wasnt just innocent online banter. Pyrrhos words had weight. Already a small but vocal minority were calling for capitulation to the alien conquerors. They argued that subjugation was a better option than total destruction. Pyrrho and the other voices calling for surrender were not simply fishing for likes and followersthey secretly imagined themselves as future rulers or overseers; by currying favor with the Vogels they hoped for prime leadership positions in the slave society that would arise. Sally tried to compose herself as a makeup technician delicately dabbed at the sweat beading on her forehead. The strain of the impending broadcast was palpable. She was not only stressed at the prospect of watching Jeffs latest highlights in the Tournamenthoping for his successful progressbut also dreading the subsequent panel discussion, in which the aliens dissected Jeffs performance. Last nights session had been horrific. The Vogels had openly scoffed and sneered at Jeffs awkward, fumbling attempts to make use of his new physical abilities. Titters and guffaws rang out as he tested his newfound strength on the gym equipment, and the whole audience erupted in uproarious laughter during his conversation with Misty. Analysis of the banter between the Vogels on the panel of experts had painted a worrying picture of the state of the System-universe under the dominion of the Vogels and their Community of Equals. The consensus was that the Community was merely a front for their Empire, colloquially known as the Fatherverse. It seemed that the Vogels were a deeply entrenched, patriarchal speciestheir supreme leader was even referred to (without a trace of irony) as the Patriarch. The Patriarch sat at the apex of a vast, fascistic Empire spanning millions of planetary systems and slave species. The Vogels were prolific breederseach Vogel male apparently spawning hundred, if not thousands of sons, who all battled it out between themselves in brutal contests for access to their fathers fiefdom. This served to weed out the weak and ensure that only the most violent and cunning Vogel males ascended to positions of power. Male Vogels who survived this initial Darwinian selection process were granted lordship over at least one vassal species. This unrelenting demand for new lebensraum and slave-species was fueled by the massive expansion of the System into unexplored sectors of space. It seemed that integration of new star systems into the System happened on a continual basis. The tragic reality was that the vast majority of Tournament Contestants were doomed to fail, thus creating a constant stream of new species and planets for the Vogels to conquer and enslave. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. A buzzer reverberated through the studio, snapping Sally out of her reverythe Tournament transmission was about to go live. At exactly the same time as the previous day, the Vogels superior tech hijacked all global broadcast frequencies, providing humanity with a ring-side seat to view Jeffs life or death struggles. The panelists shared a momentary, weighty glance, collectively aware that a hell of a lot was riding on the next twenty minutes. Jessica Connors, the enterprising young journalist who had been first on the scene when the alien warship appeared over the White House, had since ascended to the role of the panel shows host. Sally cleared her throat. Good luck, she murmured, almost inaudibly. Though who she was addressing was unclear. And then, the transmission began. Courtesy of the Vogels tech, the rundown fairground was rendered as clear as day to the viewers on Earth, making it easy for them to track his progress. Sally could barely bring herself to watch as he fought for his life. Murmurs and gasps greeted the weird goblin crews arrival on the screen. When the first notes of the House of the Rising Sun started playing, a wave of bewildered expressions swept across the faces of the people in the studio audience. Disquiet morphed into horror when Jeff employed his [Cutting Edge] skill to slice through a goblins head. One audience member actually threw up at the sight. Amidst the tumult and despite the high stakes surrounding the proceedings, Sally found herself somewhat distracted by Jeffs altered physical appearance. She couldnt help but notice that between transmissions, Jeff had somehow undergone a radical transformation. Not only did he appear taller, but he was also noticeably more muscularthe contours of his body and the definition of his muscles stood out clearly, each curve and swell like a chiseled marble statue. His facial features, too, had improved, like they had been run through some kind of filter. A blush crept up her cheeks as she gazed at Jeffs muscular torso. The heat she felt rising up through her body could not be solely blamed on the overhead studio lights. The moment Jeff was injured by Leetus, the undercurrent of fear and tension in the room increased palpably, and Sally was jolted from her musings about his ripped body. The bite wound inflicted by the monster looked serious, almost fatal. A euphoric sense of relief swept over both her and the audience when Jeff battled through the seemingly endless waves of goblins and successfully completed the training session. Immediately after Jeffs triumph, the feed transitioned to a view of two aliens: a duo comprised of the now familiar features of a Vogel and another, different E.T, of a species Sally had not previously encountered. This weird entity, a strange fusion of humanoid and octopus, was resting, half submerged inside a clear glass bowl filled with a blue liquid, resting on the stage beside the seated Vogel. Sally stared in fascination at the creature, trying to understand its physiology. A perfectly normal, human-looking head, albeit with greenish tinged skin and jet black hair, rested on a stunted frame, which was partially visible through the glass of the bowl. Thick, sucker-encrusted tentacles sprouted from the homunculus shoulders and draped over the rim of the bowl, writhing in constant motion. The large screen behind the pair sprang to life, projecting a curated montage of Jeff running and fighting. The flamboyantly dressed Vogel seated next to the octopoid turned to address the audience. Welcome, welcome, welcome! Greetings to you one and all! My name is Glyph Markaz, and it is my singular honor to present to youstreaming across the entire metaweb in real-timean in-depth look at Earths champion, Jeff Nostro. And what a champion he is shaping up to be! With me today is our first special guest of the season, the revered Spawnspurter of Seaward Clan and a noted expert on Tournament strategies, my dear, dear friend Octole Bissot. Canned applause and alien hoots of appreciation blasted through the feed, making Sally wince. After the applause had died down, the talk-show host continued. Well Octole, first impressions? Glyphs tone oozed with a blend of enthusiasm and condescension, a cadence Sally was increasingly recognizing as the standard Vogellian inflection. The strange human-octopus hybrid undulated in its bowl, sloshing more of the liquidwhich bore an uncanny resemblance to blue gatoradeover the rim of the tank onto the stage. In a gravelly voice, no doubt synthesized through some kind of interpretation device, the being spoke. A Tournament player brimming with potential. I see indications that this one will eventually follow a Spellsword Path. His movements and Skill use show notable agility and resilience. Most crucially, he displays intelligence Glyph nodded along sagely to Octoles comments, before chiming back in. I think we can all concur, Jeffs assimilation into the System and his Class integration has been nothing short of remarkable. His attribute growth is already outpacing the average by threefold, his mastery of his Class skills is top notch andis this possible?are we already seeing inklings of a Dao awakening? The screen behind them showcased Jeff plowing into the horde of goblins. The camera zoomed in and focused on his fingersfingers that seemed to elongate and sharpen in an instant, taking on a blade-like quality. Octoles aquatic home churned as he writhed about in excitement. Indeed, yes! My guess is, this one will go far. Glyph shot Octole a dubious glance, a look of skepticism written across his features. You think hes Prime League material, then? Octole responded seriously, undeterred by the obvious disbelief in Glyphs tone. Time will tell. Time will tell Chapter Eight鈥擳hrough the gift shop Jeff walked over to the still spinning chainsaw and switched it off. Suddenly feeling extremely tired, he slumped to the ground beside the shattered corpse of the masked goblin. Shrugging out of his ruined jacket, Jeff examined the bite wound in his shoulder, from which blood continued to flow freely. Unsure what to do, he undid the crude bandage, then pulled a paper napkin from a side pocket in his pants and attempted to clean the wound. Congratulations! You have learnt the Skill First Aid (Level 1) Allocating the ten free attribute points to Vitality helped to reduce the flow of blood from the wound, but did not heal it completely. Misty, I need medical treatment for this, do you have any suggestions? Jeffs detached, analytical side noted the slight quaver in his own voice as post-battle shock started to set in. Now would be a good time to move on to the next stage of the tutorial. Did you notice how you were rewarded with coins when you dispatched the targets? If you look at your ring storage interface you will see how many coins you have been awarded and you can then access the Tournament Store to make purchases. Calling up his stats, Jeff saw that they had been updated since his battle with the goblins.
NAME: Jeff Nostro RACE: Human HIT POINTS (HP): 15/80 MANA POINTS (MP): 11/70 Path: Spellsword [Hidden]
  • Path Rewrite: Awarded if 7 tribulations are completed.
  • Tribulations passed: 1/7
GRADE: J, Level 18 CLASS: Arcane Duelist 1 SKILLS:
  • Physical Fitness (Level 1)
  • Identify (Level 1)
  • High Pain Threshold (Level 1)
  • Combat Proficiency (Level 2)
    • Sub-Skill: [Unarmed Blade] Level 1
  • First Aid (Level 1)
CLASS SKILLS:
  • Infinite Sword (Level 1)
  • Cutting Edge (Level 1)
ATTRIBUTES:
  • Strength: 8
  • Speed: 4
  • Vitality: 14
  • Endurance: 5
  • Cognition: 4
  • Offense: 8
  • Defense: 5
  • Total Attribute Points: 48
  • Unallocated Attribute Points: 0
Jeff ran his mind''s eye over the stats, noting a slight increase in each one of his Attribute Points. He couldnt pin it down to any one indicator, but he did in fact feel more potent, pumped up, both physically and mentally, confident and alert with all his senses, even in spite of the pain caused by his shoulder wound. So Omega Energy is awarded when you kill? Jeff asked, trying to get the mechanics of the System clear in his head. Sort of, Misty replied. but thats a simplistic way of putting it. In fact, Omega Energy isnt just awarded for the consequences of actionsits given by the System for performing those actions well. Misty continued. Some say there is only a finite amount of this evolutionary juice in the System, and that when youre awarded Omega Energy, its being taken from another species or personlike a zero sum game. But others disagree. They point to the fact that Omega Energy doesnt only come from the act of killing. It can also be earned through achievement, building or creating in non-violent ways. Those people believe in an infinite supply, streaming from a theoretical Omega Point at the very center of the System-universe. Jeff mulled this over slowly, realizing that the comparison to XP in a game wasnt quite right. Omega Energy seemed a lot more complex and nuanced. And Mana points? Jeff asked, glancing at the next line of his character sheet. Mana is used to power spells, certain items and various other magical processes. As you proceed through the Tournament and practice your Skills, you will find that the larger your MP reservoir becomes, the more devastating the effects will be. The replenishment of your mana reserve and its capacity can be improved through meditation and cycling techniques. You can view all of your available Skills in your display console. As expected, his MP had plummeted to near empty as a consequence of the use of his Skills during the battle. He remembered being rewarded with Points by the System each time he took out a goblin, prompting Jeff to question Misty on how much Omega Energy was needed to advance a Grade. Practice makes perfect Jeff explained Misty in a didactic tone. The grading system ranges from J to A, encompassing a total of 10,000 levelseach Grade has 1000 levels. To ascend from Grade J to I youll need to accumulate sufficient Omega Energy. As you rank up through the Grades, the Omega Energy required to move on to the next level increases significantly. For instance, to advance a Level in the I Grade, you will need to earn around 10 times more Omega Energy than you did in the J Grade. You will find that as you reach the cusp of a particular Grade Evolution, the amount of Omega Energy you earn will dwindle, causing potential bottlenecks in your development. Remember, seeking out and defeating similar or higher-graded opponents earns you more Omega Energy. There is little point in battling entities of a significantly lower Grade, in fact it can often be detrimental to your development. As you grind your way through the challenges of the Tournament, you will witness your stats grow exponentially. Each Grade evolution grants you the opportunity to change or modify your Class. Also, its vital to advance each of your Attributes at roughly the same pace, for optimal development. Stolen story; please report. Jeff nodded, the concept of needing exponentially more XP for each successive Grade was familiar to him from gaming. It also, worryingly, highlighted the increasing strength and ferocity of the opponents he would face as he leveled up. He needed to grow stronger, and fast. Even the low-leveled goblins had nearly finished him offfacing a higher Grade, hostile Contestant could be disastrous. What are the consequences if my Attributes dont all grow at the same speed? Jeff questioned, dabbing at his wound. He noted distractedly that his Strength attribute was significantly higher than his Endurance. You will still be capable of advancing to higher Grades, but an imbalance in your attributes over time can cause problems. You will have increasing difficulty progressing as you wont be able to utilize certain skills effectively. Balance is crucial for successful progression. What was going on with that music during the fight? Jeff suddenly interjected, throwing the bloodied napkin on the floor and glaring up at the irritating soap bubble. WeI decided to enhance the viewer experience with some cultural material from your milieu. Well dont do it again, you almost got me killed! Jeff declared angrily. Misty did not acknowledge his order, instead continuing her tutorial. Jeff, turn your attention to the coins in your ring storage. You may have noticed during the fight with the goblins that you were rewarded for successfully terminating a target. These rewards are dual sourced; you are automatically allocated coins by the system as you grind through challenges. You will also earn rewards and patronage from viewers on the Metaweb. Try to make your gameplay, erm, I mean your fighting style, as exciting as possible to entice more coins from your fanbase. Thats why I added the musicfor the likes. Now, heres how to use the coins in your ring storage inventory. 207 coins. Jeff recalled that the goblins stats had listed their reward value as ten coins per head. That meant he had been awarded a further twenty-seven coins from online viewers of the battle. Reminded once again that he was an unwilling contestant on a perverse alien reality show, Jeff felt another wave of performance anxiety sweep over him. The Tournament Store occupies a pocket universe operated by VogelCorp, accessible via your user interface. If the Store icon is lit up in your System interface you will be able to summon a portal to access the Store. Please be aware that the Tournament Store is only accessible when a stage has been completed or you are in a designated safe zone. For your safety, make sure your access point is secure before entering or leaving the Store. Now, select the Store icon in your console. Warily, Jeff checked his six, making sure there were no more goblins creeping up on him, but the fairground was empty. He triggered the now glowing Store icon in his display with a mental click. A section of clapboard nearby shimmered, to be replaced by a dull grey metal door. Jeff, wincing, stumbled to his feet. As he stepped up to the door it soundlessly slid open. Jeff cautiously peered inside, discovering a room around 30 foot by 50 foot, the walls clad with the same grey metal as the main chamber, the same diffuse lighting, but rectangular in shape, with a long counter dividing the top portion of the room, and two doors on either side. Jeff stepped into the store and the door closed silently behind him. The wound inflicted by the goblin Leetus still bled freely, scarlet drops of his blood pattering across the jewel adorned floor. You have entered the Tournament Store Approaching the counter, Jeff was startled by the sudden appearance of a strange, metallic, obviously artificial being, which seemed to extrude itself from underneath the counter. The gaunt, angular figure was silver-skinned, seemingly composed of the same grey material as the walls. The creatures body was roughy tubular in shape, with a collection of pincers and grabbing claws jutting from the front of its body. A single round blue eye shone forth, dominating the center of its otherwise featureless, conical head. It annunciated in a grating, metallic tone, Welcome to The Tournament Store. This units denomination is Boz-!X!-effes. Are you selling or buying? The storekeepers words were simultaneously presented to Jeff in a system dialog popup as well. Tournament Store Interface: Buy or Sell? Jeffs curiosity was piqued by the choice. A real-life Cash Shop! He was tempted to investigate in detail, but he decided not to waste any time exploring the Sell option at the moment. He was after all, bleeding to death. On selecting the Buy option, A new dialog blossomed in Jeffs mind, something like a virtual catalog appearing in his inner vision. Similar in some ways to an Earthly online shopping site, the front page was a list of product types, divided into two main subheadings; Magical Items & Equipment. As he drilled down through the different categories, he noticed that most of the catalog was inaccessible due to his low Grade. Despite this, he was still left bewildered by the huge variety of items on offer. Hoping for a different way to browse the list, he played around with the functionality, quickly getting an idea how to browse more efficiently. He mentally called up a search dialog and input the concepts of health, healing and medicine. Instantly, the list shimmered and adjusted, reducing down from millions to hundreds of items and Skills fitting his search criteria. The list was still too long to wade through, and the topmost item, a [Supreme Elixir of Health], was way outside of his price range at a whopping fifty thousand Coins. Jeff adjusted the display to rank the items from lowest price first. Congratulations! Your High Pain Threshold Skill has now reached Level 2 Now he was presented with a few potential choices. The first one, a Herbalism Kit at only five coins he deemed unsuitable, as he hadnt seen a single plant, let alone a herb since leaving Earth. Moving on, Jeff inspected the next item on the list, a Potion of Healing for fifty coins. ITEM: [Potion of Healing - Value Range] ITEM TYPE: Potion ITEM CLASS: Common, Grade J +50 HP REQUIREMENTS: Mouth EXPANDABLE: (Not Expandable) DESCRIPTION: A single use magical potion, transferrable. Grants the user 50 HP. For eons, our Potions of Healing have provided succor to wounded tourney Contestants. The most cost effective off the shelf solution to regain HP bar none, VogelCorps patented blend of healing magical herbs and distillates of mana infused Still suffering from his shoulder wound, despite his [High Pain Threshold] Skill leveling, Jeff couldnt wait any longer, and skipped through the rest of the marketing copy. Mentally he selected the potion. Instantly the coins were deducted from his balance and, sure enough, a Potion of Healing appeared on the countertop in front of him. You have purchased a Potion of Healing - Value Range. Cost Fifty coins Well done Jeff. You have made your first purchase from the Tournament Store. You can either use the potion now or save it to your ring inventory. Jeff, picked it up, examining it suspiciously. He held in his hand a small glass vial containing a bright red liquid, fizzing and effervescing constantly. Throwing caution to the wind, Jeff removed the stopper, which appeared to be made of some substance resembling rubber, and raised the vial to his lips. He poured the fizzing liquid down his throat and into his stomach. Immediately, a wave of warmth and wellbeing spread out from his abdomen to every corner of his body, erasing all of his aches and pains. Jeff stared down at his shoulder, gaping in wonderment as the bright arterial blood ceased to flow out of the wound, and the ragged gash caused by the goblins fangs began sealing up, healing visibly before his eyes. Whoo-hoo! thats got some kick to it! He exclaimed to the featureless storekeeper in front of him, who gazed back at him impassively with its gigantic eye. A system notification appeared in the center of his vision. You have consumed a Potion of Healing - Value Range. +50HP Calmer now that his wounds had been healed, Jeff took a moment to truly survey his surroundings. Behind the immobile store keeper robot, dynamic holographic panels floated, displaying a wide array of items such as weapons, armor and potions, each with their description, price, and use. Much like an Earthly marketplace, certain products were highlighted, indicating they were on special offer or recommended. His vision no longer clouded with pain, Jeff examined the two doors set in the walls on either side. Luminescent signs labelled Forge and Library glowed brightly. Swiveling around, he noticed another door next to the exit, directly behind him, labelled Auction. The sign was dimmed, indicating it wasnt currently accessible. Jeff stepped away from the storekeeper, Bozwho remained standing rigidly motionless behind his counterand cautiously approached the entrance to the library. The grey metal door soundlessly slid open on his approach. Stepping through, he was greeted with a much more inviting sight. The room was reminiscent of a grandiose study, like those found in old English manor houses. High ceilings crowned with ornate plaster moldings gave way to richly varnished wooden panels. Golden light from an oversized fireplace danced across the walls, highlighting intricate artwork in gilded frames alongside sculpted busts perched on elaborate sconces. Deviating from the Earthly, stately-home theme, Jeff noted that the paintings and sculptures, while Earthly in style, all depicted alien Vogels, adding a surreal note to the decor. Around twenty yards further into the room, the art work lining the walls was replaced by book shelves from floor to ceiling. A breathtaking vista of shelves continued into the distance, each laden with hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of leather-bound tomes. The room stretched on to an almost imperceptible horizon, reminding Jeff of that vast warehouse at the end of ''Raiders of the Lost Ark''. Goggling at the bizarre sight, Jeff at first failed to notice a small alcove tucked away to the side, complete with a polished mahogany desk and a high-backed reading chair. Adjacent to this, two sumptuous leather armchairs faced the roaring fireplace. However, it wasn''t the setting, but the figure rising out of one of the armchairs that snapped Jeffs attention away from the infinite rows of bookshelves. The stunningly attractive young woman before him had the facial beauty of a model or a movie starlet. She wore a form fitting, futuristic looking outfit made from a blue material with a satin-like sheen which accentuated her ample curves. Though mostly human in appearance, her bright orange hair styled in a pixie cut, pointed elfin ears and long tail betrayed her alien origins. In fact, her over defined busthuge breasts practically popping out of the front of her partially zipped up topcoupled with her elven appearance, reminded Jeff of some erotic, hentai-esque character from a Japanese adult comic. A mischievous twinkle flashed in her luminous green eyes as she rose to greet him. Chapter Nine鈥擬arket Forces Hi Jeff, its me, Misty! The gorgeous young woman called out, rushing forward, arms outstretched, exuberantly wrapping her lithe form around him in an intimate embrace. Taken by surprise, Jeff had to exert some strength to physically pry the athletic girl off himself. Holding her at arms length, he took a moment to check out the distracting beauty wriggling in his grip. Everything about the vivacious girl seemed designed to distract him. Her tail seemed to have a life of its own, darting forward to caress his cheek as he held her at arms length. Flustered, he put her down on the floor. Wh-what the hell? Why do you look like that? He exclaimed, cheeks reddening. Why Jeff, I thought this appearance would be pleasing to you. I have made a study of your species, and variations of this body type appear frequently in your popular culture. The Tournament isnt all about fighting and brute strength, you knowit has a certain showbiz aspect, too. Im here to help you with that Its just a bit of a clichWhy is it always cat women and never cat men? Jeff questioned. Mistys face fell slightly at his reaction. Pouting theatrically, and looking slightly downcast, she continued, I can change my body type if you like Realizing any attempt to unravel the madness was futile, Jeff gave up. Never mind, he sighed, collapsing into one of the leather armchairs. Misty started babbling excitedly as he slumped in the chair. Weve got a lot to cover Jeff! I really want to maximize your earnings as we progress through the training stage. We need to build up a solid fan-base, work on your media presence, and get you prepped for the next rounds of the Tournament Jeff half-listened to Mistys marketing spiel, his mind still fixated on her appearance in spite of his best efforts. Why change your looks now, and not back in the training room? he asked, interrupting her. Like I said Jeff, this is a pocket universe created by VogelCorp. Different protocols apply here. Misty settled into the armchair opposite him, deliberately making a show of crossing and uncrossing her long, lycra clad legs. Despite himself, Jeffs gaze lingered on her. It was like Misty had been designed with exactly his tastes in mind. Shrugging off the distraction, Jeff struggled to concentrate on what she was saying, trying to ignore the itch of lust that the cat-womans carefully designed appearance seemed to provoke. Participation in The Tournament is strictly restricted to corporeal biological entities, such as yourself. As a semi-autonomous AI, Im severely constrained in my interactionseven the quantity of data I can share within a given time is limited. But here, outside of the boundaries of the Tournament, those rules do not apply. This is an artificial, pocket universe and Im occupying an avatar shell. Its a loophole, taking advantage of a quantum side effect that lets two versions of the same entity exist simultaneously. Anyway, enough boring stuff. Lets talk about your media presence Jeff digested this technical data in silence for a moment, tuning out as the AI continued to ramble on about her marketing campaign. polish your look, maybe a signature costume, something from your cultural heritage. How do you feel about wearing a kilt or a sombrero? Something iconic, to really get the buzz going Jeff tried to interrupt Mistys marketing pitch, determined to extract more concrete information about the System universe. But it proved difficultevery time he steered the conversation towards politics or history, the slippery AI redirected it back back towards branding or publicity. Sifting through Mistys effusive, propaganda-laden praise for the Vogels and her outright lies about the fair and just society they had built, Jeff began to piece together a clearer picture. Mistys alien masters manipulated a functionality of the SystemWorld Championsto perpetuate never-ending localized wars across the many Sectors of the vast System Universe. These war zones, or Tournaments were populated by representatives plucked from newly assimilated worlds, subsumed into the System, as well as weaker species teetering on the fringes of the existing order. When a species suffered a defeat, it provided the Vogels with a pretext for conquest, giving their expansion a veneer of legitimacy. Jeff realized, that, to the Vogels, war was simply politics by other means. Another tool of control was the sham Community of Equalsno more than a talking shop populated by puppets of the Vogels. The Tournament itself acted as both a carrot and a stick, deepening divisions among species and fueling the insecurities and weaknesses of the fringe dwelling majority. After pressing Misty repeatedly for more information, the AI eventually clammed up, refusing to offer any more useful information. These weighty matters are perhaps best explored later. Your goal at this stage, Jeff, first and foremost, is to build your following on the Metaweb, and of course to master the ways of power Learn how to more efficiently cultivate mana and make the best use of your Skills. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Springing to her feet, Misty announced, Hurry Let me explain the facilities here in the store and we can get on with the training. Times a-wastin. Reluctantly, Jeff rose from the extremely comfortable armchair and followed Misty over to the large mahogany desk. An exquisite, antique looking oil painting in a gaudy frame hung on the wall facing them. Bizarrely, the portrait, in a style reminiscent of Rembrandt or some other Old Master, depicted a Vogel foppishly dressed as an eighteenth century dandy, bewigged and powdered, astride a thoroughbred horse. Studiously ignoring the painting, Jeff stood next to Misty in front of the desk. This room is an adjunct of the main store. Here you can research and purchase Skills, Spells and Cantrips. Give it a go. Dutifully touching the surface of the Skills Console, a new dialog sprang open in Jeffs mind, listing a huge compendium of additional Skills available to his Class. Scrolling backwards and forwards through the detailed information and getting a feel for the interface, Jeff found he was able to filter the Skills to only show those available to lower leveled players such as himself. The Skills on offer were sorted in a neat format, with textual descriptions as well as graphics showing them in action. Shadow Walker, Arctic Touch. Gorgons Gaze, Elemental Command, Phase Shift. Razor Gale, Temporal Strike Dimensional Step, Gravity Leap, Spirit Tether Wound Weave, Essence InfusionWithering FrostBinding RoarBlade Pavane Multi-ShotTransmutation Fist The interface was so immersive, and the list of Skills so large that as Jeff stood at the console, he felt wave after wave of information flooding his mind, threatening to send him over the edge into cognitive overload. Elixir Mist, Matter Morph, Mystic Zest, Frost Fire, Lightning Lure, Cloud Cover, Hemomancers Command, Sanguine ShieldMana Resonance Misty placed her arms familiarly around his shoulders as he stood at the console, snuggling closer as she spoke. As you can see, Jeff, there is in actual fact, no limit to the catalog of Skills available to each class. Not to mention cracked Skills, Abilities granted through the contemplation of Daos, and a plethora of additional powers to be gained from advanced Mana Cultivation. Skills are bestowed upon System-dwellers in a variety of ways; Some are System-allocated, others can be purchased, and some can be gifted as boons by your adoring fanbase. Sorting the available Skills by price revealed that the cheapest one capable of a ranged attack, [Mana Burst], was on sale for a hefty five-hundred coins. Along with the text description were a bunch of seriously cool videos, showcasing the Skills effects at various stages of a users evolution. The first clip featured a hooded humanoididentified only as a Grade J Contestanthurling what appeared to be blue flaming fireballs at a moving target. Each fireball detonated on impact, causing further splash damage in a two meter square area of effect. As the holder of the Skill evolved in Grade, the power of the Skill escalated, becoming increasingly deadly. The next video in the marketing pack featured a Grade F player clad in black armor, astride a huge warhorse-analog. The knight unleashed a single, devastating blast of neon blue energy, a solid bar of force that turned an entire hillside into a smoldering crater. Note to self, Jeff thought. Get Mana Burst ASAP. Misty took him by the hand, and pressing herself way too close to him, motioned towards the door. Jeff resisted for a second, curious about the seemingly infinite rows of books lining the walls, receding into the distance. Whats in all those books? He questioned. Runes. Some spells and incantations as well, but mostly runes, she intoned in a mock-solemn tone. Magicians, wizards and bards can browse the reference section of the library to hone their craft. We can have a look at those later, after you have mastered the basics of runic engraving and mana manipulation. Jeff allowed himself to be guided out of the library and through the store front. Misty, curtly nodding at the still immobile robot behind the counter, led him directly towards the door marked Forge. The door opened onto a utilitarian workshop, dominated by a large metal topped workbench in the center of the floorspace. An imposing black anvil stood on the flagstones at the far end, facing an unlit furnace, its mouth agape. Shelves laden with an array of tools lined the walls on either sidetongs of varying sizes, hammers ranging from small delicate mallets to heavy sledges, chisels with razor sharp edges and various other implements of indeterminate usage. In one corner, a separate bench caught Jeff''s eye. This one was more refined, meticulously organized with etching tools, gravers, and burins. Clearly, this station was designed for performing intricate engraving work. In the other corner, a substantial cauldron made of the same dark metal as the anvil, hung suspended over an unlit fireplace. Adjacent to the cauldron, a table was set up with a bizarre collection of equipment; an old-fashioned copper alembic nestled against a delicate glass retort, its long neck glinting in the stark overhead lightneither of which would have looked out of place in a medieval alchemists workshop, while a rack of sleek modern test tubes and beakers could have been lifted from a state-of-the-art chemistry lab. Underneath the shelving, the walls on either side were meticulously covered with an array of cupboards and bins. These storage units were crammed full of raw materials, to be used in the process of forging and crafting. The assortment included various commonplace metals such as steel, brass, bronze and copper, along with various types of wood and different qualities of leather. It seemed that the Tournament creators were generous with mundane materials, no doubt wishing to encourage those embarking on crafting Paths. Misty, meanwhile had moved over to the workbench in the center of the room, and was spread out along its length, lying down on her stomach in a rather lascivious pose. Winking at him, she breathily whispered, If only we had more time, Jeff Trying his best to ignore Mistys ridiculous provocations, Jeff moved around the room, examining the various pieces of equipment on display. Weaponselixirsenchantments Jeff murmured to himself as he navigated his way around the forge, trying to work out the functions of the different tools. Jeff decided to spend his remaining coins on equipment and supplies. Returning to the main store room, he again approached the impassive robot, Boz behind its counter and turned to the issue of defense and offense. Now that his wound was healed, he was able to study the options available in the Store Catalog in more detail. One thing he noticed was that the items available were restricted to his Gradeevery item above Grade J was greyed out, inaccessible. As you level up you will find the quality of Store items available to you will improve, Misty explained. You are limited to purchasing Grade J items currently. But that doesnt mean you cant find higher Grade items in the Tournament. Often, the System will award treasures of a more advanced level as bonuses or rewards. Also, youll find youll be awarded better quality loot items as you defeat other contestants, even NPCs, The equipment and magical items on offer in the Store were ranked from Common, through Uncommon to Medium, then Rare and Peak, the rank heavily influencing their price. His options were limited to a few basic choices, but Jeff finally settled on a coat of [Chain Mail] for fifty coins, which added two points to his Defense attribute. The downside was the weight of the armor, at least twenty pounds of extra bulk. ITEM: [Chain Mail] ITEM TYPE: Armor ITEM CLASS: Common, Grade J, +2 Defense (Not Stackable) REQUIREMENTS: None EXPANDABLE: (Not Expandable) DESCRIPTION: Basic brigandine armor composed of interlocking metallic chain mesh on leather, designed to cover torso and arms. Can be worn in conjunction with other pieces of armor such as a cuirass, greaves and vambrace. With nearly all his remaining funds, he purchased a short sword for seventy five coins, which was similar to a Roman gladius in that it did not have a hilt. Jeff would have preferred a hilted weapon, especially as his hands were not protected by the chain mail, but all he had remaining were thirty-two coins. ITEM: [Short Sword] ITEM TYPE: Melee weapon ITEM CLASS: Common, Grade J, +2 Offense (Not Stackable) REQUIREMENTS: At least one grasping organ EXPANDABLE: (Not Expandable) DESCRIPTION: A heavy pommelled classical short sword, good for thrusting attacks. Practicing a few basic stances and swings with the sword, Jeff was disappointed with the weight and balance. The weapon was clumsier than he would have liked, a little heavy in the grip. The edge of the blade was not the sharpest either, but he would hopefully be able to upgrade his kit at a later stage. He needed some form of melee weapon other than a knife immediately, and this was all he could afford. A ranged weapon would have been preferable but the cheapest bow or even spear was way out of his price range. His thoughts turned once again to the pressing issue of food. He was disappointed to discover that while the Catalog contained a myriad of devices and weapons, both magical and mundane, there was not a single edible item in stock. His belly growled in disappointmenthe couldnt recall the last time he had eaten a proper meal. Then, he remembered the hotdog stand in the weird fairground. Chapter Ten鈥擳o the Victor Not wasting any more time, Jeff left the Store through the exit and returned to the gloomy training area. Darkness shrouded the rides and sideshow stalls, the only light remaining was from the arcadea faint glow from the Space Invaders and Pac-Man machines casting a feeble illumination over the goblin corpses. Hurrying over to a shuttered candy stand, he ripped open the shutters and leapt inside. Nothingjust dust and empty candy wrappers. Noticing an automatic soda vending machine in the arcade he stepped inside. The machine seemed to be full of cans of soda and other drinks. Eagerly, Jeff drew back his fist and smashed the glass to gain access. Once again, disappointment. The cans and bottles on display, despite appearing unopened, were all empty. The hotdog stand, the cotton candy booth, and the pretzel cart all yielded the same resultsdust, empty wrappers, no food. Jeff shrugged resignedly and once again tried to ignore his hunger. He turned his attention to his progress. He noted that his HP had now risen back up to full as a result of consuming the healing potion. His MP was also creeping back up. Still not at full capacity, but it seemed to be replenishing at a rate of one per minute, so should also be back up to full capacity within another half an hour. Recalling how distracting the dialog boxes had been in the middle of his battle, Jeff asked Misty how to alter the style of system alerts and notifications. You can alter the system display to suit your preferences, just picture how you want the information to display in your mind explained Misty, once more in the form of a glowing soap bubble, hovering in front of him. Manipulating the interface mentally, clicking and dragging the various dialogs took a bit of practice, but eventually Jeff had reconfigured the layout to more closely resemble a traditional first person shooter heads-up-display, with MP and HP at the bottom and systems dialogs neatly relegated to the far right corner, their notifications emitting a gentle pulse whenever they updated. With a bit more experimentation, a small map overlay appeared in the top left corner. Its details displaying not only the geographical layout but, according to Misty, the whereabouts of any enemies or allies. Finally, he was able to toggle a crosshair on and off in the central field of vision, which he reckoned would be useful when he gained any ranged weapons. Jeff took a moment to reflect on the events of the day so far. There was a cognitive dissonance nagging at the edges of his consciousness. He felt that he should have been more shaken up, especially after receiving the serious wound that he did. It seemed that the transformation he had undergone when he selected his Class had toughened him up mentally as well as physically. Or he wondered, perhaps he was actually suffering from some form of shock, like PTSD? Jeff decided not to dwell on irrelevancies such as feelings or philosophical mattershe realized any soul searching or moral agonizing was futile. After all, whether he liked it or not, he was singlehandedly responsible for the fate of the human racethere was no time for an internal dialog. His feelings, his state of mindthese were secondary. There was no place for any introspection or doubt in the face of extinction. He decided to look through the goblins possessions in the hope of finding something useful. Remembering something from the battle, he entered the busted up hall of mirrors and moved over to the still form of the boss goblin. His eyes scanned the grotesque figure, intent on unearthing anything of potential value. Secured at its waist by a crude length of twine was a crude scabbard, and on the floor, he found the dagger the goblin had attacked him with. Picking it up, he saw that the blade was crafted from something like bone, or perhaps a long tooth. Setting the strange dagger aside, Jeff rifled through the pockets of the goblins faded overalls and found little else of interest, just a glass pipe which had obviously been used to smoke something, as its interior was stained with a layer of nasty brown crud. Jeff looked at the bone knife once again; by concentrating he was able to summon an overlay with more information. Glowing yellow data appeared: ITEM: [Goblin Bone Dagger] ITEM TYPE: Weapon ITEM CLASS: Common, Grade J, +2 Offense (Not Stackable) REQUIREMENTS: At least one grasping organ EXPANDABLE: (Not Expandable) DESCRIPTION: A goblin bone dagger, fashioned from the femur of a cherished family member. Goblins are expected to use these daggers on their first hunt as a rite of passage to goblin adulthood. Experimenting, Jeff mentally pulled the dagger into his ring inventory. To his amazement it worked, and the dagger faded out of existence in front of his eyes. Its a bag of holding Jeff muttered to himself, peering down at the innocuous looking ring on his finger. Once again, he was struck by the similarities between the mechanics of the Tournament and the trappings of RPG games. Trying again, he attempted to pull his Earth-made pocket knife into his ring. It vanished as well. ITEM: [Mundane Primitive Knife] ITEM TYPE: Weapon ITEM CLASS: Common (No Grade) EXPANDABLE: (Not Expandable) DESCRIPTION: Jeffs trusty pocket knife, gifted to him at the tender age of three by his loving father. (Seriously, who gives a three year old kid a knife for their birthday?) Staring nostalgically at the folding hunter knife and its System generated description, he was suddenly reminded of his childhood. At the age of five, his father had relocated the family to a remote log cabin hidden deep in the forested Great Smokey Mountains of North Carolina; real Deliverance country. There then followed what his father called his education; a grueling few years for Jeff, characterized by off-grid survival skills, hunting, living off the land and rigorous martial arts training, with little contact with the outside world. All the while, his fathers behavior had grown more and more erraticdrinking heavily, he suffered from increasingly violent mood swings. Finally his mother could take it no longer, and whisked Jeff and his sister back to the city, away from his father, who remained in their log cabin in North Carolina, becoming increasingly more eccentric as the years passed. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Jeff returned his attention to the present. The convenience and ease of use of his Storage Ring astounded him. Jeff played around with the function a few more times, making sure that he could get access to the weapons as and when required. He found that he could equip himself with the knife and the new goblin dagger with a simple thought, the weapons appearing straight into the palm of his left or right hand. He reckoned that this ability would come in useful in the heat of a battle or when faced with the unexpected; he would be able to swiftly equip himself without having to fumble around. Out of curiosity, Jeff pulled out one of the remaining coins from his ring and inspected it physically. Roughly the size of a US silver dollar, one side was stamped with the likeness of a Vogel wearing some sort of crown, the flip side showed two crossed swords in a circlet of stars. Holding the token up to the light, Jeff noticed that the material wasn''t any ordinary metal. The coin shimmered and seemed to change color depending on the angle he held it at, transitioning between silvery hues to gold and then to a deep iridescent blue. The craftsmanship of the coin was exquisite. The Vogels profile had been etched with meticulous detail, every wrinkle and contour of the reptilian being rendered with precision. The crown, ornate with what appeared to be tiny gemstone inlays, hinted at the significance or high status of the particular Vogel embossed on the coin. Unprompted, Misty declared in a reverent tone: The Patriarch, Supreme Head of the Vogelian Fatherverse! He who must be obeyed! Biting his lip, Jeff barely managed to stop himself from making a disparaging comment about the Patriarchs parentage, aware as he was that his every word and action was under scrutiny. Douchenozzle he muttered, sotto voce. Moving on, Jeff continued looting the dead goblins. The next few corpses were disappointing; they had no weapons or much loot of any value. In the pocket of one of the goblins Santa costumes, Jeff discovered some suspicious looking dried meat, wrapped up in a dirty kerchief. ITEM: [Goblin Bush Meat] ITEM TYPE: Food REQUIREMENTS: A mouth EXPANDABLE: (Not Expandable) DESCRIPTION: Theres no telling which type of critter this meat originated from. Best not to wonder, eh? All you need to know is, it probably tastes like chicken. Despite his increasing hunger, Jeff wasnt ready to test the bush meat just yet. His next find was a faded monochrome photo of an old female goblin, smoking a corncob pipe on the porch of a dilapidated shack in a forest setting. Finding an old-style paper photograph felt strangely anachronistic to Jeff, and once again he wondered at the need for such detailing for what was merely an NPC. Why would the creators of The Tournament go to such lengths to imbue these characters with depth? Were they trying to create empathy, or was it simply an artistic choice to make the Tournament world more immersive and entertaining for the viewers? The System didnt assign any value to the item, but Jeff stored it in his ring anyway, reasoning that storage space seemed unlimited, and there was no knowing what would or would not come in handy at a later date. He even pulled the corpses of the goblins into his ring. Who knows when a dead goblin might come in handy. He muttered to himself, a strange feeling of disconnect creeping up on him as he wondered how much he could get for them in the Tournament Store. Picking up the chainsaw he mentally inspected it. ITEM: [VogelCorp Aether Powered Chainsaw] ITEM TYPE: Weapon/Tool ITEM CLASS: Common, Grade J, +2 Offense (Not Stackable) REQUIREMENTS: At least one grasping organ EXPANDABLE: (Not Expandable) DESCRIPTION: Originally designed for such mundane tasks as felling trees and trimming branches, now the weapon of choice amongst inbred mutants and families of cannibals. Aether not included. Studying the machine, he saw it was equipped with a simple throttle control on the handle, and along the side was an analog dial which showed the fuel tank was three quarters full of aether. Whats aether, Misty? Jeff asked curiously, running his tongue over his dry lips and sloshing the liquid around in the tank as he spoke. Aether is a distillate of raw mana, used to power goblins infernal combustion engines and war-weapons. Misty continued, sounding like she was reading from a wikipedia entry. The actual process by which goblins manufacture aether is a closely guarded secret, handed down from tribal elder to first-born. Their aether stills are usually located in the deepest, most inaccessible corners of their lands, far from prying eyes. Aether is a highly volatile substance, incredibly dangerous when used incorrectly, but can also be consumed as a beverage when mixed correctly. So I can drink it? Jeff interjected eagerly. His mouth was feeling increasingly dry. While Aether cocktails are popular amongst the elite, and are often served at Hegemon Level dinner parties in the Core, they are only recommended for consumption by Grade E Barons, Satraps & Moguls, or higher. Disappointed, he pulled the chainsaw into his ring inventory and moved on to the last goblin. A search of one corpse revealed a crude wooden amulet hanging around its neck on a plain silver link chain. Depicting a three headed god of some kind, the [Identify] function revealed the following information: ITEM: [Periapt of The Erstwhile Tree Gods] ITEM TYPE: Magical Amulet ITEM CLASS: Medium, I Grade, +2 Vitality, +2 Endurance. In addition to the vitality and endurance boost, will grant the wearer +10 HP (Stackable) REQUIREMENTS: None EXPANDABLE: (Not Expandable) DESCRIPTION: A protective charm, fashioned out of timber from the last tree standing in the Magical Grove of Auchintern. At the height of their powers, the kindly Lords of Leafbough ruled over their fabled forest world; a peaceful, agrarian society based on love and mutual respect. The arrival of VogelCorps automated flat-pack furniture assembly plant, and a short lived enthusiasm amongst the Vogelian middle classes for coffee tables and sideboards crafted from Auchinternian wood spelt the end of their arboreal society. Pulling the chain over his head, Jeff was pleased to see that it did indeed increase his HP pool, as well as enhancing his Vitality and Endurance stats. Jeff took a moment to look over his stats screen.
NAME: Jeff Nostro RACE: Human HIT POINTS (HP): 80/80 (+10*) MANA POINTS (MP): 70/70 Path: Spellsword [Hidden]
  • Path Rewrite: Awarded if 7 tribulations are completed.
  • Tribulations passed: 1/7
GRADE: J, Level 18 CLASS: Arcane Duelist 1 SKILLS:
  • Physical Fitness (Level 1)
  • Identify (Level 1)
  • High Pain Threshold (Level 1)
  • Combat Proficiency (Level 2)
    • Sub-Skill: [Unarmed Blade] Level 1
  • First Aid (Level 1)
CLASS SKILLS:
  • Infinite Sword (Level 1)
  • Cutting Edge (Level 1)
ATTRIBUTES:
  • Strength: 8
  • Speed: 4
  • Vitality: 14 (+2*)
  • Endurance: 5 (+2*)
  • Cognition: 4
  • Offense: 8
  • Defense: 5
  • Total Attribute Points: 48
  • Unallocated Attribute Points: 0
Jeff noted that the additional Vitality and Endurance Points bestowed by the [Periapt of The Erstwhile Tree Gods] did not make it into the Total Attribute Points (TAP) amount. Quizzing Misty further on the subject of items and Levels, it transpired that in the System, in the same way that players could level up, so too could items. The materials and level of craftsmanship used to create an item determined how high a class the item could ascend to. At higher levels, with the correct nourishment and care, some items could even attain consciousness and eventually take on beast or sentient form, becoming a Spirit Tool. The idea that weapons, not just players, could evolve was a novel concept for Jeff. Nourishment and care? You mean like watering a plant? Jeff quizzed curiously. In a way, yes. But its more about symbiotically channeling the right kinds of mana, performing certain rituals, and sometimes even providing the Spirit Tool with a specific type of material sustenance. Misty went on to explain the hierarchy of objects in the System. Firstly, there were mundane instruments like his pocket knife, simple utilitarian devices that could not evolve in any way. Next there were expandable items which would level up with usage. Finally, at the top of the pyramid were magical items which had been crafted using runes of power. These items were the most valuable on the marketplace. Misty explained that much like Class assigned Skills, these objects could be imbued with mana by the wielder to power various effects. To illustrate, Misty projected examples of runes in his display. As the strange, fractal like sigils passed in front of his minds eye, Jeff felt a peculiar resonance. Each rune seemed to illustrate some fundamental concept, to which Jeff felt a pull, an indescribable connection. Some of the runes seemed to depict multiple, even contradictory concepts. The rune for water evoked a sensation of wetness, along with images of rivers, waves and the sea, while the fire rune simultaneously managed to elicit sensations of both warmth and comfort and extreme heat and burning. As each rune flashed in his vision he was momentarily overcome by the sensations. Making a mental note to go back to the library and delve into the subject of runes at a later point, Jeff climbed to his feet and asked, Well Misty, whats next? At this stage you can either work on leveling up your stats in more training environments or move on to Tantalus, a regional Tournament departure point and safe zone. Whats in Tantalus? Jeff asked curiously, visions of comfy couches and platters of delicious food passing through his mind. Tantalus serves as the local marshalling center for the Tournament in Glogly sector, where you can relax and indulge in the superb fine dining offered at the renowned Crystal Citadel. Youll have the opportunity to meet and interact with other World Champions before advancing to the first round. Comfortable accommodations and leisure facilities awaitstroll through the landscaped pleasure gardens and enjoy the temperate climate of Tantalus while taking full advantage of the free dining at the Crystal Citadel. Jeffs stomach grumbled once again at the repeated mention of free food, but remembering the Vogel diplomats speech before the Community of Equals, particularly the part where he talked about vanquishing all other combatants he was reluctant to rush into a cosmic waiting room without first improving his stats as much as possible. Who knew how friendly his fellow Contestants would be? Pulling the last remaining protein bar from a side pocket in his pants, he said to Misty resignedly, Lets continue grinding through the training, shall we? Chapter Eleven鈥擳he Daily Grind Jeff stood poised in the dank, dimly-lit corridor leading off the haunted house, his sword gripped firmly in his hand. He had chosen the Action option for the next stage. After snatching a few hours sleep in the library, he had spent some time grilling the evasive AI, trying to extract more information about the challenges and risks he could face during the rest of his so-called training. Misty, however, kept steering the conversation back to the topic of marketing and his popularity on the Metaweb. But Jeff, your popularity is important. Its a matter of life or death for you. Believe me, she insisted. For once Jeff detected a ring of truth in her wordsthe tricksy AI sounded almost sincere. She continued, In the Elimination Rounds a Contestant without support is basically doomed. Without those backer boxes, cash donations, and gifts from patrons, you will not have the firepower to push through Reluctantly, Jeff acquiesced to some of Mistys less extreme marketing ideas. They discussed his metrics and what he could do to improve them, but when she tried to get him to wear a bizarre costume, he flat-out refused. The outfit she presented to him was designed to be worn over armor, made of brightly colored panels of silkclashing red, green and blue panels, much like a traditional harlequins garb. The ensemble was completed with a strange tricorn hat, adorned with bells that tinkled merrily. To Jeffs tactical mind, the hat was suicidalremoving any possibility of stealth as the bells chimed with even the slightest movement. Jeff peered suspiciously at Misty, wondering once again whether he should be trusting this strange creature. For a moment, he considered cutting all ties with the AI, but ultimately decided to maintain the illusion of trustafter all, it was better to keep your friends close, and enemies closer. He did acquiesce to a live interview with a panel of showbiz types, scheduled for a date a few weeks down the line. Jeff was beginning to grasp the underlying mechanisms powering the Tournamentthe flow of funds that provided Contestants with crucial advantages. He realized not seizing every available opportunity would be a foolish mistake. He tried to return the conversation to the mechanics of the Tournament, pressing the slippery AI about what lay in store for him. Mistys half-hearted attempts to reassure him that fatalities hardly ever occurred during the tutorial had been greeted with open disbelief by Jeff. He was certain that if every other Contestant faced challenges as intense as the hordes of goblins he had fought during the combat stage, a large proportion wouldnt survive long enough to make it through to Tantalus. His efforts to gain more intel were abruptly brought to an end when the AI stopped responding to his questions, leaving him in the dark once more. A flash of light was followed by a low grinding rumble from the far corner of the corridor. Lo and behold, another door appeared in the previously blank wall. In Jeffs heads-up display, a glowing yellow line pointed him towards it. As he neared the door, it slid back, revealing a fantastic sight. Gone were the sci-fi style chambers or gloomy fairgrounds. This time, Jeff was greeted with a radiant burst of brilliant sunlight that temporarily blinded him, accompanied by a rush of humid air, redolent of foliage. Blinking his eyes to adjust them to the brightness, he peered through the doorway, into what appeared to be a lush tropical jungle. Or rather an Earthly jungle on steroids. A sprawling riot of life spread out before him. Majestic trees, hundreds of feet in girth towered all around, their height lost in the canopy of leaves overhead. Huge buttress roots sprawled out all around the forest floor, and a profusion of tropical plant life of all kinds grew chaotically in every direction. As Jeff looked through the doorway, a gigantic dragonfly at least two foot long whizzed past, while a column of antseach one the the size of a small dogmarched between the stems and branches, their mandibles carrying huge leaf segments above their heads as they proceeded back to their nest. Jeff equipped himself with his newly acquired chain mail and stepped over the threshold, leaving the cold fairground behind. As soon as he cleared the doorway, it instantly blinked out of existence behind him. The intense tropical heat hit him like a physical blow. Jeff was immediately drenched in sweat, the humidity was so intense. The luminous glowing arrow in his HUD pointed forward, charting a route across the clearing into the dense forest. Jeff stood awhile, waiting for the column of army ants to process its way past him. RACE: Marabunta Gigantes HIT POINTS (HP): 10/10 MANA POINTS (MP): 5/5 REWARD: 5 Coins More information was available when he focused on the insects race. Marabunta Gigantes (Giant Army Ants), are a force to be reckoned with in their jungle domain. They engage in a relentless, destructive march through their jungle habitat. Their orders are simpleprovide nutrition for their queen. They leave a trail of devastation in their wake, decimating all life forms they encounter. Their sophisticated system of communication, akin to telepathy, is based on pheromones and enables them to swiftly summon backup from their central hive. Jeff prepared himself for battle, about to engage with the formidable column of ants. He was eager to grind and level up, but a sudden realization halted him in his tracksonly a certain amount of time remained before he had to move on to the next stage of the Tournament. He decided to take a more cautious approach and wait for the ant column to pass before proceeding to follow the System generated line in his HUD. While he waited, Jeff suddenly realized that he had forgotten to quiz Misty about a crucial piece of information, detailed information on the specifics of the Tournament timeline, and he made a mental note to ask her ASAP. The ant column disappeared through the foliage and Jeff finally proceeded on, threading his way through the jungle, which grew more and more densely populated by plants and trees. Lianas and creepers dangled from overhead branches, forcing Jeff to duck every so often. Prickly bramble bushes with thorns as long as his forearm littered the path, and thickets of giant bamboo analogs created impenetrable natural walls, further delaying his forward movement. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Initially, Jeff had imbued his short sword with [Cutting Edge] to effortlessly cleave a path through the vegetation, chopping down whole swathes of the forest as he slogged onwards. However, as the trees closed in around him and his MP diminished, he grew increasingly concerned at the outlay. Several times, he was forced to protect himself from the supersized flora and faunagiant, brightly colored bugs, poisonous looking millipedes and even carnivorous plants hindered his progress. Huge seed spores floated between the trees, and giant brightly colored fungi and toadstools choked the forest floor. Retrieving the goblin chainsaw from his ring, he yanked on the starter cord and the engine coughed into action. Jeff revved the saw, then attacked the obstructive vines and branches blocking his way, saving his mana. The heat and humidity increased still further, and dehydration became a serious issue. Along the way, Jeff managed to gain temporary relief by drinking dew that had accumulated within the giant petals of an orchid-like flower. He also managed to pluck a huge berry from a low-lying branch, breaking open the basketball sized fruit and gorging on its sweet flesh. The meagre sustenance he was able to scavenge only seemed to fuel his hunger. Frustratingly, none of the wildlife he encountered appeared safe to eatthe vivid coloring of the bugs he encountered was a clear indicator of their toxicity. Eventually, he reached the epicenter of the forest. The trees he had seen at the beginning of the foray into the jungle were minuscule in comparison to the behemoths around him now. Jeff switched off the chainsaw, its growl fading away as it slowed to a stop. Its presence felt obscurely disrespectful amongst such natural wonders. And then he saw itarching into the sky in front of him was the arboreal king of the forest. The trees trunk would have barely fitted inside the footprint of a football stadium, and its height seemed absurd to Jeffgravity defying. He was facing a solid wall of bark, stretching to the left and right as far as he could see. And the glowing yellow arrow pointed straight at it. Jeff circumnavigated the colossal trunk for some time, until he came upon a potential route upwards. Clinging to the side of the tree was a huge creeper vine, its girth more than three yards across. It spiraled its way upwardsa colossal helixwinding around the trunk of the gargantuan tree like a natural staircase. The vine was easily wide enough for two people to walk along its upper surface, shoulder to shoulder. Utilizing leaf buds and root-like protrusions as hand and footholds, Jeff hoisted himself up onto the vine and began his ascent, following its spiral course. Onwards and upwards, Jeff thought. His first hint of danger came when a flicker of movement overhead and to the side caught his eye. Perched on a horizontally protruding bough from a neighboring tree, glaring down at him, was a large bipedal rhino-like creature. Labelled a Mooblon'' by the system, the seven foot tall monster was naturally armored in a leathery hide, with a large ivory-colored horn jutting out of the grey skin of its forehead. Clasped in its shovel-like hands was what looked like a coconut or gourd, roughly the size of a basketball. NAME: Befedu RACE: Mooblon, Grade J HIT POINTS (HP): 30/30 MANA POINTS (MP): 10/10 REWARD: 10 Coins Description: The Mooblon is a large, bipedal rhino-type, possessing a prominent single horn. This prolific species is predominantly found in arboreal habitats throughout the universe, and are distinguished by their formidable physical strength. Mooblon are especially renowned for their strong territorial instinctsthey are fiercely protective of their domains, nestled high among the canopies and branches of gigantic trees. Another point to note is their liking for and hoarding of vast quantities of Ahud nuts, the seed of the Ahud tree, which is a staple foodstuff in Mooblon culture. Abruptly, the Mooblon hoisted the nut over its head in both hands and hurled it down towards Jeff. Like a missile, the nut sliced through the air, plummeting down at him with unerring accuracy. Jeffs reflexes kicked in just in time; he leapt aside, teetering precariously on the vines edge. The Mooblon, wasting no time, had somehow found another nut and was getting ready to launch an attack at Jeff once again. Jeff looked around for shelter but found none; his options were limited. Retreat back down the vine. Somehow attempt to get onto the neighboring tree branch and engage the Mooblon in combat. Or simply continue his ascent, whilst avoiding the projectiles. Retreat was not an option, and he saw no way to access the parallel tree branch and engage the Mooblon on its own turf, other than to first climb back down and then begin the arduous ascent of the other tree. He opted to continue his upward, helical journey, whilst evading the aerial bombardment. The Mooblon continued to lob nuts at him twice more as he spiraled up the trunk of the tree, but Jeff became more skilled at anticipating each volley and managed to duck aside each time. Congratulations! You have learnt the Skill Dodge (Level 1) Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 19 As he drew level with the nut-throwing rhino-type on the adjacent tree, it peered at him across the forest divide, a look of challenge drawn across its leathery features. Another nut was flung as well as a string of guttural insults, not translated by the System. Jeff did not engage as his focus was on the path ahead. His upwards progression continued. Spiraling higher, he spotted more Mooblon on the neighboring tree branches overhead, silhouetted against the massive leaves of the forest canopy. Several more times, he successfully evaded the volleys of nuts thrown his way. This pattern continued as Jeff followed the twisting vine, the frequency of the volleys increasing as he ascended. Occasionally, Jeff had to temporarily retreat before putting on a burst of speed to dodge the nuts, now being hurled at a blistering speed. Congratulations! Your Dodge Skill has now reached Level 2 In addition to the nuts thrown from overhead, an extra hazard was introduced to the scenario. The vine had a shallow indentation or gulley running down its center, along which nuts came rolling like balls in a jungle-themed pinball machine. Jeff dodged, weaved, ducked and jumped, narrowly avoiding the onslaught until he finally received the notification. Congratulations! You have learnt the Skill Jump (Level 1) Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 20 Action Stage Completed Prepare for Skill Stage Jeff stood panting on the vine, drenched in sweat from his exertions. He was still only about halfway up the gargantuan tree. Unsure what to do, and receiving no guidance from Misty, he continued on up the vine spiraling around the side of the tree trunk, until inevitably, his luck ran out. As the vine coiled up the bole of the trunk, its path intersected with a huge branch jutting out of the trunk of the tree at a right angle. The protruding limb was so large that the junction between the trunk and the bough created a large level platforman area large enough to host a Mooblon village. And the vine Jeff was relying on for his journey up the trunk went straight through this forest settlement. With cautious movements, Jeff hunkered down just out of sight, surveying the treetop village from behind the sheltering girth of the trunk. Jeff noted with chagrin that roughly twenty huts were clustered around a central clearing, and his path, the vine, ran straight through it. On closer inspection, he realized that the huts were not simple wooden structures as he had first thought, but were in fact crafted from gigantic hollowed out acorns. The acorns were polished to a sheen and were topped with natural woody cupules, acting as natural roofs. Small round windows had been cut into the outer shells, and each abode boasted a painted wooden door. The Mooblons were a hive of activity, bustling around the acorn-huts and about the hamlet, engaging in various agricultural tasks. The nuts Jeff had been pelted with seemed to be more than just ammunition, they were a staple part of the Mooblons dieteverywhere Jeff looked there were mounds of the brown oversized seeds. He watched, fascinated, as two Mooblons took turns cracking open a pile of them. The pair kneeled in front of a large flat stone, each one in turn carefully placing an Ahud nut in an indentation in its center, the other abruptly lunging forwardtheir long horns piercing the tough outer shell, revealing the white, coconut-like kernel inside. So engrossed was Jeff in observing the intricacies of Mooblon life, he neglected to check his six. He paid the penalty for his carelessnessthe sound of a dry twig snapping wrenched him back to reality. Whirling round, Jeff was confronted with six angry looking Mooblons, each carrying large hessian sacks full of the omnipresent nuts, and armed with long wooden spears. The tips of all six spears, expertly whittled to deadly looking points, were leveled at him. Chapter Twelve鈥擟utting Edge Jeffs skin paled, a cold sweat springing up on his brow as he sized up the Mooblon foraging party. The heavily muscled bipedal rhinos presented a much more significant threat than the scrawny goblins of the previous stage. Jeff slowly unclasped his hand from the sword hilt at his side, and with a mental command stowed it in his ring inventory. He then lifted his arms in the air, in what he hoped was a universal sign of peaceful intentions. Deliberately maintaining a calm, even voice, he spoke to the assembled group before him. I mean no harm, he announced, keeping a wary eye on the spears and horns of the rhino-men. I simply wish to continue past your home and further up the path, he gestured along the vine and through the village, pointing upwards, unsure if the Mooblons could understand his speech. The Mooblon spear-bearer closest to Jeff, his pebbly grey hide a patchwork of scars, peered down at Jeff, scrutinizing him. The creature blinked, leathery lids momentarily occluding its black eyes, and then spoke. Enunciating each word slowly, in a gravelly voice, he grated, You talk to chief. He decide, and motioned Jeff to continue forward along the vine into the village. Although he did not sense the same aura of animosity that had characterized the goblins, these NPCs were indeed formidable creatures. Jeff, lacking any other options, decided to accede to their demands for the moment. He continued walking up the vine to the Mooblons hamlet, flanked closely by the spear-wielding rhinos. As the groupwith Jeff the unwilling leadtrooped between the strange acorn-dwellings, the villagers paused whatever they were doing to stare at him with open-eyed curiosity. More Mooblons poked their heads out of the windows and doors of the houses, curious to see what all the commotion was about. Mooblon women stood staring, their brightly colored headwear a cross between a turban and a fruit bowl. There were even Mooblon children, grey-skinned, with the beginnings of small horns poking from their foreheads, who ran excitedly around Jeff and his captors, trumpeting. Once again, Jeff was struck by the level of detailhard to believe that the whole setup is simply a game simulation created for my benefit, the processing power required to generate this level of realism must be enormous. Finally they arrived at the center of the hamlet, in front of a larger than average acorn-house. The leader of the scouting party motioned for Jeff to stop. The front door of the dwelling flew open and a giant Mooblon, head and shoulders above the rest, came crashing out. The Mooblon chief was garbed in higher quality attire than that of the rest of the villagers, although it looked like his finery had seen better days. He wore slightly mangy looking, but still regal fur trimmed robes, scuffed leather boots and a wooden crown of some sort, perched at a lopsided angle upon his wrinkled brow. What? Who dares disturb my afternoon nap? The Mooblon Rhino king roared, the sheer decibel level of his voice enough to momentarily silence the local bird and insect population. The chief rubbed his eyes, blinking blearily at Jeff. The leader of the scouting party quickly stepped up, and in a low, respectful tone of voice, filled his leader in on all he knew about Jeff, which wasnt much. So, you wish to climb the mighty Asanso, to reach the zenith of the world, do you? The NPC king mused aloud, but the question was obviously rhetorical, as without waiting for a response from Jeff, he pivoted to the assembled villagers, his voice rising to an even higher volume as he addressed the gathering crowd. With every turn of the moons pale face, an outlander reaches out, daring to clutch at the strands of fate. Here stands yet another alien, yearning to climb the sacred Green Way. We are the Custodians of Mooblon, the enforcers of the celestial decree: Only the worthy may ascend to challenge Vasuka. Here, the old king paused and shouted out again in an even louder, booming voice, Only the worthy! The villagers, in unison, echoed their king, Only the worthy! Turning back to Jeffwho by this point had resorted to covering his ears to protect his hearingthe king smiled dispassionately, the grey leathery skin around his lips crinkling, but his eyes remaining aloof. So, alien, are you ready to face the Reckoning? Jeff was unceremoniously dragged towards a corner of the village. His protestations and requests for more information on the Reckoning fell on deaf ears. The crowd converged around another of the flat stones on the edge of the village, similar to the one Jeff had observed earlier, but more ceremonial in appearance, with engravings around the circumference. Jeff and the crowd waited silently for the chiefs arrival. Eventually he appeared, a large sack of the brown nuts slung over his shoulder. Your task is simple, the chief declared solemnly, Crack open the sacred fruit of Asanso to reveal her beneficence, and your path upwards will be unhindered. But fail, and you shall be reclaimed by the earth from whence you came, the king gestured towards the steep precipice at the edge of the village. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Jeff realized that being reclaimed was a euphemism for being thrown to his death. Jeff approached the chief confidently. Despite the consequences of failure, he did not anticipate any issues with the task before him. Selecting a nut from the sack, Jeff placed it carefully in the depression in the center of the stone, before retrieving his short sword from his ring inventory. No, the chief suddenly interjected. No swords. You profane the Reckoning of Asanso with your ungodly metal tools. Heart sinking, Jeff slowly stowed the sword back in his ring. Thinking quickly, he pulled out the goblin dagger he had looted from Leetus. Mutely he presented this non-metallic alternative to the chief, questioningly. The chief and village elders scrutinized the bone dagger, commenting amongst themselves on its primitive craftsmanship. Luckily for Jeff, after examining the dagger, the chief raised no objectionthe bone it was carved from was deemed a natural substance. Jeff however, was concerned that the dagger was simply too crude and frail for the task, even with the use of [Cutting Edge]. The chief stood, observing Jeff with an expression bordering on amusement, a wry smile tugging the corner of his large leathery lips. The time you have is marked by the suns dance with the third branch, he declared, pointing at a substantial bough stretching above them at an acute angle, like the hand of a clock. Jeff quickly estimated that he had little more than an hour left before his time ran out. With that, the chief departed, leaving the large sack of nuts beside the ceremonial stone. Most of the villagers returned to their usual activities. Only the original group of foragers, still armed with their spears, remained to oversee Jeff. Jeff lifted the Ahud nut from the stone table and scrutinized it more closely. The outer shell of the nut was so tough that even with his boosted strength, Jeff was unable to crack it, even after repeatedly smashing it against the stone. Changing tack, Jeff reminded himself that this was no doubt a test of his Skill use. Removing all of the nuts from the sack, he methodically lined them up atop the outer edge of the circular platform. In total there were seventeen of the brown spheres. Taking a moment to concentrate, Jeff activated [Cutting Edge]. The faint yellow glow of the skill surrounded him as he moved counterclockwise around the stone, slicing through the nuts one after another with the goblin dagger. Hoots and exclamations of surprise rang out from the assembled Mooblons on guard duty as he succeeded in slicing through the tough outer shells of the nuts. But to his disappointment, he had only managed to cut completely through two of them before the Skill dissipated, his dagger skittering harmlessly off the resistant outer shell of the next nut in line. What with the bone blades relative bluntness in comparison to its steel counterparts, and the mana drain from using the Skill, it started to become apparent to Jeff that he wouldnt be able to open all of the nuts within the time limit. Not unless he radically altered his approach. Jeff concentrated, visualizing his trajectory around the circle and the precise tilt of the knife in his grip. This time, there was a modest improvement in his performance, and he was able to cleave through three more of the massive seeds before the effect of his Skill wore out. This minor victory was overshadowed by the twelve nuts still arrayed around the stone circle, remaining obstinately un-cracked as the sun sank lower in the sky. Jeff assumed a meditative posture, his back against the cool surface of the stone circle, crosslegged upon the earth. There has to be a reason why the Skill functioned better the second time, he told himself. He somehow needed to amplify the effect by an order of magnitude if he had any hope of cutting through all of the remaining nuts. How to make the blade sharper, he wondered? Opening his Skill list, he once again read the description attached to [Cutting Edge]. Increases the sharpness of a blade 10-fold, causing greatly increased damage As he mulled over the Skill description, a sudden revelation occurred to him. Sharpness seemed to be the key here. Once again, Jeff thought back to his Vision during his evolution, and the strange power the Steel Mage had unleashed. Holding the dagger in his hand, he stared down at its rough cutting edge. Perhaps, he thought, the sharpness is not simply connected with the utility of the blade itself, but also something to do with the wielder? Jeff continued to stare at the dagger, familiarizing himself intimately with every facet of the weapon, every notch and kink along its bony length. As he continued to stare down at the knife, a new understanding and acceptance of the daggers profile blossomed in his mind. He felt a new connection being forged, a melding of his intent and the weapons potential. The limitations of the tool he held were accepted calmly, and a new awareness of its true nature and capabilities began to form. Be the blade, Jeff murmured to himself, feeling a steely sharpness creep over his thoughts. Jeff rose, activating the [Cutting Edge] skill once again. A yellow nimbus shone forth from his right hand, and the very air around him stilled as he raised his arm in a sweeping motion. The dagger felt like an extension of his own arm now, so familiar was he with its form and function. Jeff held the dagger at waist height as he calmly began his circuit around the stone circle, each nut falling into two separate halves as he sliced through it effortlessly. The assembled Mooblons watched in wide-eyed astonishment as he completed the Reckoning. Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 21 You have passed a System Generated Test! Reward Five Omega Energy Points This message was followed immediately by another. Skill Upgrade: [Cutting Edge] Congratulations! Your Cutting Edge Skill has now reached Level 2 Description: This skill is now upgraded to a dual Active/Passive Skill. Your blades sharpness is multiplied 20-fold when actively using the skill. The Skill will also work constantly as a passive buff, increasing the sharpness of any blade you wield. Potential damage is significantly increased, and wounds inflicted in battle will take longer than normal to heal. Your attack will pierce all mundane armor with easeeven Grade J runic armor will offer little protection to your enemies. Chapter Thirteen鈥擝oss Battle As Jeff stood waiting in the center of the village, the entire Mooblon community gathered around. The king cleared his throat, and, his booming voice echoing off the acorn-huts, addressed the crowd. Today," the king began, "we have witnessed a feat of great skill and determination. This alien," he gestured towards Jeff with his horn, "has honored the Reckoning of Asanso, A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd. For sustenance on the remainder of his journey, we gift him this sacred fruit. May it sustain him and give him the strength needed to face the mighty Vasuka. The chieftain reached behind his back and presented Jeff with an Ahud nut. A sudden strong wind picked up, blowing leaves around the village and causing the branches overhead to creak and groan. An ill omen for your journey, young alien. The King pronounced solemnly. When the Lodoz blows, Vasuka is at full strength. You are almost certainly doomed. Jeff ignored the gloomy warning, and thanked the king for the nut. Nodding at the assembled villagers, he proceeded on, up the vine. The wind continued to buffet him, almost throwing him from the path on a couple of occasions. Eventually, Jeff breached the canopy. The whole forest stretched below himan ocean of green and endless sky, as far as the eye could see. A single colossal leafeasily the size of Times Squarestood before him, and the glowing yellow System-generated path led him right onto it. Barely had he set foot on the giant leaf before a rattling sound, together with a sibilant, almost hypnotic hiss reached his ears. With a sinking feeling, Jeff stared at the approaching shape, undulating and writhing across the surface of the leaf towards him Boss Battle Defeat Mistress Vasuka to Complete Your Training NAME: Mistress Vasuka, Preferred Pronouns: ze/hir RACE: Ningish Serpent, Grade J HIT POINTS (HP): 40/40 MANA POINTS (MP): 30/30 REWARD: 30 Coins Snakes. Thats just great He muttered to himself. A corny, electronic version of the ''Snake Charmer Song began to play through invisible speakers, echoing across the huge leaf, much to Jeffs annoyance. Jeff had felt an aversion to snakes from an early age. Once, while attending kindergarten at the age of four during a particularly hot summer in the city, he had been bitten by an escaped rattlesnake. The owner of the creche had her living quarters above the childrens play area, and her stoner boyfriend, a reptile enthusiast, had forgotten to close one of the cage doors in his vivarium. Luckily, the paramedics had administered anti-venom in time, so the symptoms of the snakebite were mild, but Jeff remembered spending the next few days tossing and turning in his bed, drenched in sweat and unable to sleep. Every time he shut his eyes, he had again felt the sharp pinch of the snake''s fangs piercing his skin. His father had beaten the living crap out of the boyfriend, resulting in some legal repercussions that hastened their relocation to the remote wilderness of the North Carolina mountains. The creature undulating rapidly across the leaf towards him was unlike any Earthborn snake Jeff had heard of. At least 25 foot long and thick as a telegraph pole, with alternating bands of purple and green along hir length, hir massive head was hooded, like a cobra, and from hir sinister mouth a forked tongue at least a foot long zipped in and out, hissing and tasting the air as ze slithered towards him. A striking feature was the two pronounced fangs protruding from hir mouth, gleaming white against the purple tone of hir head. Finally, the serpent was equipped with a massive rattle at the end of hir tail from which emanated the disturbing noise Jeff had noticed initially. Mistress Vasuka paused around 30 feet in front of Jeff, coiling hir body sinuously round and round until ze had created a pile of hir own body from which hir head emerged. Peering straight at him with hir inscrutable sapphire colored eyes, ze opened a black lipped mouth and spoke in a flute-like, hypnotic voice. Greetingzzz Jeff. We can do thisss the hard way, or the eazzy way. Your choice. Sighing and peering up in the air, Jeff called out in a voice laden with scorn, Come on, is that the best youve got - a crappy Jungle Book rip off? Vasuka abruptly reared up and opened hir mouth wide to reveal a cavernous mouth equipped on either side with two wicked looking fangs. Rocking hir head back then abruptly forward, ze spat an arc of fluorescent blue fluid across the space between them, aimed directly at his face. Taken by surprise, Jeff was unable to dodge the viscous stream in time, some of it hitting him on the cheek and dripping down his neck. A notification flashed up on his interface. Youve been poisoned You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Ningish Serpent Neurotoxin Venom. -10 HP, 30% reduction in Strength, 50% reduction in Cognition Jeff stumbled backwards, frantically wiping at the blue slime on the side of his face. Luckily for him, the poisonous jet had missed his eyes, but the pain of the acidic liquid was bad enough. Large, fluid filled blisters erupted across his cheek and neck in response to the toxin. Congratulations! You have learnt the Skill Poison Resistance (Level 1) Whats worse, Jeff felt a strange trancelike mood slip over him, reducing his ability to think straight. The venom''s insidious effects seemed to amplify the ambient noises, making the steady rhythm of his heart thud louder and louder in his ears. His vision became tinged with blue and purple spots, and he struggled to maintain focus on his target. Shaking his head, he ran at the serpent, shouting an incoherent battle cry. Vasuka uncoiled hirself and darted forward to meet his charge. As Jeff approached, he raised his gladius over his head, simultaneously triggering [Cutting Edge], bringing the sword crashing down towards the reptiles snout. But Vasuka at the last moment swerved to the side with blinding speed, avoiding being struck directly, the blow skittering off the armor-like ridges around hir eyes to slice through the scales on hir right side, creating a long shallow wound from which oozed dark green blood. You have struck Vasuka a glancing blow with Cutting Edge, dealing 5% damage Your Offense attribute has risen by 1 In response, Vasuka began to glow, scales lighting up along the length of hir body as ze triggered some type of skill. Hir mouth yawned open, wider than seemed physically possible as hir jaw unhinged, revealing the cavernous interior of hir gullet. The serpent reared up above him. Still disoriented by the neurotoxin, Jeff had no time to react as Vasuka dropped down on him in an impossibly fast blur, hir gaping mouth open so wide he caught a glimpse of hir razor sharp teeth passing by on either side as he was swallowed whole. Engulfed in the dark wet space, Jeffs head and upper body were now being squeezed violently by the muscles lining Vasukas gut. He could feel his feet still sticking out of hir mouth but the rest of him was being constricted brutally, and Jeff felt himself starting to pass out from the pressure. The meagre air was foul, tainted with the stench of rotting meat and the acrid sting of the snakes toxic saliva. You have been incapacitated by Vasuka He had dropped his sword on the surface of the leaf as he was being swallowed, not that it would have done him much good as his arms were pinned against his sides by the peristaltic movement of the snakes digestive system. Trying not to panic in the dark humid environment of Vasukas intestinal tract, Jeff thought of the goblin dagger and pulled it from his storage ring, directly into his right hand. Using the last of his strength he stabbed outwards, attempting to pierce a hole to the outside. His efforts were rewarded when he finally saw a small chink of light. However, try as he might, he was unable to make the hole any larger with the bone blade. Unconsciousness beginning to set in, he finally remembered to deploy the [Cutting Edge] Skill, managing to use the knife to slice a hole wide enough to escape out of, kind of like unzipping a sleeping bag from the inside. You have freed yourself from Vasukas crushing embrace Your Endurance attribute has risen by 1 Jeff rolled out of the gash he had created, covered in Vasukas slimy internal juices. The giant snake thrashed spasmodically, clearly wounded but still an active threat. By chance, his short-sword was lying on the surface of the leaf, close to hand, so Jeff was able to grab the weapon and swing at Vasukas head as ze lunged down towards him. His strike was a clean one, and Vasuka was completely decapitated, hir head flying across the leaf, tongue still protruding and issuing an angry hissing sound, whilst the rest of hir body slumped to the leafy ground, unmoving. You have injured a Grade J Ningish Serpent Sighing in relief, Jeff brushed himself down and examined his most recent wound. The angry blistered welts on his face had spread further down his neck, aggravated no doubt by the snakes digestive juices. Gingerly dabbing at the blisters with his shirt sleeve, Jeff managed to clean them up somewhat, and the pain began to subside. However, he felt that another Potion of Healing was required from the Store. Calling up his stats, he was surprised to see that the stock of coins in his inventory had not increased after defeating Vasuka, and the button to summon a Store portal was still dimmed, inaccessible. Misty, what happened to he started saying, only to be interrupted by a sharp pain in his leg. Glancing down in shock, he saw that Vasuka had somehow come back to life and was biting into the flesh of his lower left leg. A Grade J Ningish Serpent has injured you Pushing himself backwards with his hands and his free foot, and kicking out repeatedly with his other foot, he finally succeeded in dislodging the snakes teeth from his leg, the calf muscle seriously lacerated and bleeding freely. Seriously pissed now, Jeff got to his feet and limped back towards the serpent, and struck down again and again with his sword, succeeding in hacking off the its head once more. Panting, Jeff kicked the head off to one side and then stepped back warily to observe the outcome. As he watched, a green glow appeared around the bleeding stump at the end of Vasukas now shortened length, and in front of his eyes, a new head started to grow. Within a minute, a ripple ran down the length of the body and the newly grown head was complete. Vasuka opened hir eyes and almost seemed to grin at him. You cant defeat me that easily, Jeff. ze hissed, opening her mouth wide and spitting another stream of blue neurotoxin at him. This time, Jeff managed to dodged the flow of poison by throwing himself to one side. You have evaded a Ningish Serpents attack Your Speed Attribute has risen by 1 He rolled to his feet and once again sliced through the creatures neck. This carried on for some time, and the serpent was slowly reduced in length each time Jeff chopped off hir head. Finally, patience wearing thin, Jeff decided to employ a different method. Grasping hir head in one hand, he used his other hand to stuff hir tail into hir wide open mouth. The tail went in easily and despite Vasukas struggles, Jeff was able to continue to feed the bulk of hir body into hir mouth; the more he fed in the smaller ze got. Ze went from something the size of a space hopper then a basketball then down to a baseball in size. Finally ze was no bigger than a golfball. Jeff continued squeezing and rolling, until with a pop, Vasuka was no more than a greasy stain covering the palms of his hands. You have killed a Grade J Ningish Serpent Reward: Ten Omega Energy Points Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 22 Panting, Jeff wiped his oily hands on his pants and angrily glared upwards into the blue sky above him, at a spot where he imagined a camera would be, if the Vogels had actually required cameras. Are you not entertained? Chapter Fourteen鈥擬ana Matters Well, I must say, that''s a first. I''ve never seen a Ningish Serpent dealt with in that way. Jeff detected a note of surprise in Mistys voice. Once again, he was rewarded with more coins, denoting the end of the challenge. Jeff got to his feet, wincing in pain from the bite wound on his leg. Congratulations! Your High Pain Threshold Skill has now reached Level 3 Surveying the most recent battlefield, Jeff limped over to the remnants. From the severed heads of Mistress Vasuka which lay scattered about the floor, he harvested twelve of hir sapphire like eyes; [Ningish Orbs of Mana Replenishment], which according to their description, would temporarily boost available Mana Points by 50%. Suddenly, a triumphal chorus of unseen trumpets sounded, heralding the arrival of a larger than normal, highly decorated system message, resembling an ornate scroll. Congratulations! You Have Been Awarded Your First Loot Box! Reward: Five Omega Energy Points Blinking away the message from the center of his HUD, Jeff was startled to discover a large, bronze colored chest floating in midair in front of him. The rectangular chest was roughly the size of a steamer trunk, and was finely crafted from polished wood bound by bands of brass. Casting Identify, Jeff was granted a bit more information by the System. ITEM: [Boss BoxCommon Tier] ITEM TYPE: Loot Box REQUIREMENTS: None EXPANDABLE: (Not Expandable) DESCRIPTION: As a reward for successfully clearing this training stage, you have been awarded a Boss Box. [Hidden] Marveling, Jeff approached closer and tentatively reached out to touch the glowing box, only to be rewarded with the anticlimactic message: Loot Box Locked. Unlock Criteria: Grade I or Higher Required to Unlock. Disappointed, he pulled the box into his ring inventory, resolving to level up as soon as possible. Jeff winced once again, the pain in his leg worsening, and his face still smarting from the effects of the serpents poison. The glowing icon in his HUD indicated that the Store was now accessible, so Jeff quickly toggled it, causing the usual metallic door to materialize in the trunk of the tree by the side of the gigantic leaf. Wasting no time, he stepped through. The cool air within the store was a pleasant relief from the humid jungle outside. He immediately purchased a Potion of Healing and downed it in one. Soothing waves of healing pulsed through his body, the blisters and pus filled sores on the side of his face drying up and falling off in the process. Exhausted, Jeff stumbled into the library. Sinking into one of the overstuffed armchairs, he let the potion do its work; soon he had fallen into a fitful sleep, his dreams populated by a hostile menagerie of demons and aliens. When Jeff awoke he was both hungry and dehydrated. Browsing through the store once more, he discovered a [Magical Water Flask] for 20 coins which, according to the blurb, would provide a never-ending supply of pure drinking water. Jeffreturning to the libraryheld the purchased flask in his hands and studied it. It was an unremarkable receptacle, made from what looked like a muted metallic alloy, with a twist top secured to the body of the bottle with a simple hinge. Flipping it over revealed a complex rune etched into the base of the flask. As Jeff stared at the fractal-like sigil, he again felt that strange resonance in his core, this time flavored with images of wetness, water and fluidity. Within the complex pattern he made out the water rune from his earlier research. The elemental rune seemed to have been combined with another, secondary rune he did not recognize, no doubt controlling or adjusting the behavior of the spell. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The instructions specified that the user was to imbue the rune in the base with two MP in order to charge it and thus fill the flask with water. Try as he might though, he was unable to activate the rune, leaving him feeling frustrated and still thirsty. Adopting a mock professorial tone, Misty perched on the arm of his chair and began lecturing Jeff on the basics of mana use. For millions of years, even before the advent of the System, Cultivators of many species from across the universe have pondered on the flow of energies, and how to utilize them. The Five Tenets of The Cultivator can be boiled down to the following essential points. Sense - Feel the movement and types of mana around you. Auras become more distinct, the harder you look for them. Channel: Let the mana flow freely through your Core and your pathways. Accumulate: Strengthen your inner mana pool. Purify: Clean and convert the mana for your intended use. Cycle: Move the mana through your mana channels in a steady stream. Feeling slightly foolish, Jeff took a breath and settled himself cross legged on the polished wood floor of the library. Whilst studying martial arts in his teens, Jeff had explored the concept of Chi, along with other aspects of Eastern mysticism, mostly gleaned from old kung fu movies. For a time, he had dabbled with meditation and yoga, seeking to understand and harness the power. In the end though, he had come to believe that Chi was nothing but a metaphor, a symbolic representation of human potential energy, and not some real force external to the body that could be tapped into. Now, concentrating on the concept of mana and trying to enter a receptive state, Jeff attempted to shrug off his skepticism, and reached out with his senses. Nothing at first, then slowly he started to see sparkles of light at the corner of his vision. He concentrated some more. All of a sudden, he was aware of strange glowing blue particles all around him, clustering in greater concentrations in certain places. As he extended a hand towards one such cluster, he was amazed to see the mana slowly gravitate towards his hand, then smoothly enter into his body. Congratulations! You have learnt the Skill [Mana Essence] (Level 1) A light bulb moment: this ambient collection of mana particles in the air around him was the very reason his reserves replenished over time. Simply moving through these shimmering clouds was enough to naturally absorb the mana. Closing his eyes and looking deep within himself, Jeff descended into the depths of his mind and discovered a new inner dimension which he felt sure had not been accessible before. Focusing on this newfound inner world, or Core Space, Jeff found himself instantly transported to a small luminescent grotto or cave, in which he floated, disembodied. The walls of this inner world were dense with mana, bathing the cavity all around with a rich, warm glow. Within the heart of the space was a small pool, composed totally of manaso dense was the concentration that the energy had the consistency of a thin fluid. Concentrating once again, Jeff began pulling the ambient mana clusters in the air towards himself, slowly at first but then with increasing ease. As the mana flowed into his body through his meridians, the walls of the grotto began to pulse brighter, imperceptibly at first but then with increasing intensity, strengthening with every new influx of energy. As the grotto walls rapidly lit up, imbued with more and more mana, Jeff started to notice a change in the pool of energy at the very center of his Core Space. Slowly at first, as the surrounding walls became brighter, the liquid in the pool began to move, a cycloidal current or vortex picking up and stirring the mana, sluggishly churning the liquid in a clockwise direction. As more and more mana entered his body, the current accelerated, until the mana in the pool was spinning, a mini whirlpool developing in its midst. Jeff, fascinated, observed the working of this strange interior environment for some time, sensing the movement of mana as it processed in through his skin and its onward journey to and through his Core, beginning to gain an intuitive understanding of the movement of energy through his body along an intricate tracery of energy highways branching throughout his body. Finally, not knowing what more he could do, he exited his Core Space. Well done Jeff! Misty cooed, attempting to give him a celebratory hug. Youve begun the process of channeling and cycling your mana. That''s not an easy feat for beginners. Now try to push some mana out of your body. Jeff concentrated, attempting to visualize and in some way control the mana pool in his Core Space. Employing the mental imagery of his newfound mana grotto, he imagined a small stream of mana exiting the pool and running across the cave floor into the walls. He guessed that the glistening walls of the cave symbolized his body in some way. Sure enough, Jeff felt a mild burning sensation from his core, a tingling passing through his chest and then down his right arm into the hand holding the flask. It was as if the channel was being forced wider, its bandwidth expanding. Gradually, with the creation of the improved pathway, he was able to push a small stream of mana through his body and out of his hand. Jeff picked up the flask and held it in front of him, concentrating on the rune engraved in its base. Employing his new ability to manipulate mana, he sent a small trickle of energy out through his hand and into the rune on the flask. His MP level ticked down from 30 to 28 and the rune flashed, signifying that the flask had been charged. You have Spent 2 Mana At the same time, the weight of the flask increased in his hands, indicating it had filled with water. Feeling more than a little proud of his achievement, and energized by his newfound abilities, Jeff took a moment to refresh himself. First, he quenched his thirst, and then he used the cool, crisp water from the flask to clean off some of the grime from his recent battles as best he could. He resolved to study the workings of the flask some more, and eventually to make something like a portable shower for himself. Jeff played around with the [Mana Essence] Skill for a little while, noting that he could turn it on and off at will. He could see streams of energy moving through his body, pouring continuously into and out of his Core Space. But when he turned his newly acquired Skill on Misty, he was surprised to see an absence of Mana. It was as if she was not really there Chapter Fifteen鈥擥raduation Stomach rumbling audibly, Jeffs thoughts inevitably turned yet again to a proper meal. He caught himself reaching instinctively for his phone, a habit ingrained from placing countless orders via delivery apps. With some chagrin he realized, A: there was no signal, and B: no restaurants would deliver off planet anyway. The last time he had eaten properly seemed like days before, and the meager protein bars he had found in his pocket earlier had not made much of a dent in his hunger. Out of desperation, Jeff accessed his ring and retrieved the dried meat he had looted from the defeated goblins earlier. Hesitantly, he took a small, cautious bite of the dark brown meat, which had the look and texture of biltong, a type of cured beef he ate on occasion. The flavor was good, indeed reminiscent of chicken, with a hint of subtle spices. Jeff hesitated no longer, and tucked in to the tasty strips of unidentified meat. I guess Ill be foraging for food in the wild, Jeff thought to himself glumly as he continued chewing on the dried meat. After dealing with the essential matters of hydration and nourishment, Jeff decided to address an even more mundane issue which had been nagging at him for some time now: the question of bodily functions. Broaching the subject, Jeff turned to Misty for an answer. Erm, Misty, how come I havent needed to use the, er restroom yet? Jeff mumbled, cheeks flushing, aware that his every word was being broadcast to and scrutinized by potentially trillions of viewers. At first, Jeff assumed that a combination of stress and dehydration had delayed the inevitable, but as more time passed and he still hadnt felt the urge to go, he was becoming concerned. Mistys voice was matter-of-fact as she explained. Class evolution initiates certain physiological changes. one such change is the removal of the need for antiquated digestive processes. In fact, as you continue to evolve your Grade, you will find the necessities for eating, drinking, and even breathing become optional. Misty continued, There is also the issue of the optics Our audience do not wish to be presented with such a sordid spectacle, so that aspect of your biology would have been edited out anyway. Jeff took note of this, feeling slightly queasy at the casual way his body could be altered for the purposes of mass entertainment. Surreptitiously, acutely aware of the audience monitoring his every move, he performed a quick body check. All of his body parts, including orifices, seemed to be intact and in order. Shrugging off the feeling of unease, Jeff got to his feet. Walking back into the Tournament Store, he presented the featureless robot with one of the orbs he had looted from the corpse of the Ningish Serpent. How much would you give me for this? Jeff inquired curiously. The robots intricate front facing manipulators whirred to life, grasping the orb and raising it level with its humongous blue eye. Five Coins, it declared in its usual robotic voice, placing the orb back down onto the counter gently. A measly five coins, is that all? Jeff was incredulous. From his previous searches of the store catalog, he knew that similar mana enhancing products would sell for at least ten times the paltry amount Boz had quoted. Swiping it back into his ring inventory in disgust, Jeff remembered the mysterious third door behind him. What would these fetch at auction? The robot paused for a moment, processing a response. Next auction scheduled in twenty-five days, it grated robotically. Stand by for data transmission. Once again, Jeff felt that peculiar tingling sensation at the base of his skull, followed by a influx of data streaming into his consciousness. Details of the auction format, terms, conditions and fees payable flooded into his brain. The information embedded itself in his memory, as though he had been familiar with Tournament Auctions for several years. The information resided in his memory like something he had learnt in Junior High, not five seconds earlier. Quickly sifting through the newly acquired info, Jeff came to the disappointing realization that the Ningish Orbsalong with all of the other items in his ring storagewere unsuitable for sale in the upcoming auction. When he took into account the hefty entry fees, the extortionate commission rates levied by the auction house on every lot, and the relatively mediocre nature of the loot he had collected thus far, Jeff realized that only objects of far higher value would be worth submitting. Opting to save the serpents orbs for a dire situation, Jeff stashed them back in his ring, reasoning that they would be more effective when he leveled up and had grown his MP capacity still further. The trials continued. The ensuing four days took on a dream like quality as Jeff engaged in a series of puzzle, skill, combat and action trials against an assortment of system-generated adversaries. Jeffs existence became a blur of fights, feats of endurance and logical puzzles. He managed to forage just enough to stave off starvation, but the thought of food was a constant preoccupation. Do you mean to starve me, Misty? Is that the goal of this damn Tournament? He groused, prompting Misty to ramble on about the wonderful banquet halls of Tantalus. Despite his hunger, Jeff hesitated to leave the training phase, still worried about the risk of facing his fellow Contestants before he was ready. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Between challenges, he immersed himself in the library, diving into the history, culture and geopolitics of the System universe. Jeff found he was able to absorb entire pages of text in moments, devouring entire books in a matter of minutessomehow drawing the data directly into his mind. He briefly wondered if this was another benefit granted to him by the Autochs during his brief time on their ship. Yet despite this effortless intake of knowledge, Jeff still felt crippled by ignorance. He pressed on, determined to fill the gaps in his understanding, struggling to grasp the mysterious forces at play in the strange new universe he now inhabited. Jeff was fascinated by runes, those mesmerizing fractal sigils that were the machine code of the System universe. He gazed fixedly at continuous lines of the symbols, trying to understand their essence. What exactly is a rune? he pondered. He was starting to grasp their function: as mechanisms to harness cosmic energy, channeling mana like conduits while imbuing it with specific attributes such as fire or water. Their true nature remained elusivewhat a rune actually was and how it was able to create such powerful effects. Jeff felt that he was only scratching the surface, sensing a deeper understanding beyond his grasp. Jeff continued to delve into the tomes, committing as many runes to memory as possible during his intensive cramming sessions. After defeating a succession of NPCs, he managed to raise his Total Attribute Points to 125. His level had risen to 865, creeping steadily towards the breakthrough point of 1000 required to evolve to Grade I. He also managed to collect a variety of different loot items of varying values. One such item was an enchanted helm that bestowed the wearer with +5 Defense. Then there was a leathery bladder filled with virulent poison harvested from a field teeming with venomous black worms. He laid claim to a stout pair of hobnailed bootsin his sizewhich he liberated from a chatty, cockney speaking Orc. The orc had insisted on babbling a stream-of-conscious-like narration of their battle in rhyming slang, until Jeff succeeded in silencing it with a decapitating blow from his short-sword. The boots gave a +2 Speed buff and were a welcome replacement to his Earthly combat boots, which were already showing significant signs of wear. Lastly, he harvested a bag full of vile-tasting, but edible toadstools which gave a healing +5 HP buff with every mouthful. Hed managed to built up a decent stash of coins for future purchases in the store, but he decided to hold off on making any purchases until he had moved on to the next round of the Tournament. He checked out his Status Screen.
NAME: Jeff Nostro RACE: Human HIT POINTS (HP): 80/80 (+10*) MANA POINTS (MP): 70/70 Path: Spellsword [Hidden]
  • Path Rewrite: Awarded if 7 tribulations are completed.
  • Tribulations passed: 1/7
GRADE: J, Level 865 (Approaching breakthrough at 1000 to evolve to Grade I) CLASS: Arcane Duelist 1 SKILLS:
  • Physical Fitness (Level 1)
  • Identify (Level 1)
  • High Pain Threshold (Level 1)
  • Combat Proficiency (Level 2)
    • Sub-Skill: [Unarmed Blade] Level 1
  • First Aid (Level 1)
  • Dodge (Level 2)
  • Jump (Level 1)
  • Poison Resistance (Level 1)
  • Mana Essence (Level 1)
CLASS SKILLS:
  • Infinite Sword (Level 1)
  • Cutting Edge (Level 2)
ATTRIBUTES:
  • Strength: 19
  • Speed: 17 (+2*)
  • Vitality: 19 (+2*)
  • Endurance: 19 (+2*)
  • Cognition: 14
  • Offense: 18
  • Defense: 19 (+5*)
  • Total Attribute Points: 125
  • Unallocated Attribute Points: 0
Jeff took a look through the items he had stored in his inventory.
INVENTORY: Coins: 189 ITEM: [Short Sword] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Goblin Bone Dagger] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [VogelCorp Aether Powered Chainsaw] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Periapt of The Erstwhile Tree Gods] Uncommon, Level 2 (Not Expandable), +2 Vitality, +2 Endurance, +10 HP - Equipped (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Ningish Orb of Mana Replenishment] Rare, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +50% Mana Boost (temporary) x 12 ITEM: [Netherworm Corruption Poison, small bladder] ITEM: [Chain Mail] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Defense (Not Stackable) - Equipped ITEM: [Helm of Enchantment] Common, Level 1 (Expandable), +5 Defense (Not Stackable)- Equipped ITEM: [Orcish Battle Boots] Common, Level 1 (Expandable), +2 Speed (Not Stackable)- Equipped ITEM: [Bag of Fairy Life-Cap Mushrooms] +5 HP with each mouthful (76% remaining)
Jeff noted with a twinge of irritation that while both the helm of enchantment and the chain mail were equipped at the same time, only one of the items applied a buff to his defense stat, as neither were stackable items. He decided to keep the chain mail on anyway, as it still offered some protection against physical attacks. Finally Misty declared that he had completed all the available trials, and raised his attributes and Levels as far as possible within the training environment. He was now required to proceed onwards to Tantalus, there to meet the other Contestants in the Tournament. Jeff greeted the news with some relief. The meager amount of food he had been able to scavenge during his training had done nothing to assuage his hunger. Jeff paused, taking a moment to assess his character sheet. He decided to allocate all of his unassigned attribute points, now that the initial training stage had finally ended. He toyed with the idea of spreading the points evenly across Speed, Endurance, Defense and Offense, but decided in the end to put the whole lot into Offense, reasoning that the best defense was a strong offense. The character sheet shimmered and updated. Immediately, Jeff felt an increase in confidence sweep through him, an intoxicating buzz of newfound courageaggressive machismo tempered with a coldblooded killer instinct. A small voice in the back of his head sounded a note of caution. If his personality was altered this much by a relatively small change in his stats at the beginning of the tournament, would he still be himself by the end? Shrugging off the niggle of doubt, he squared his shoulders. I am Jeff, he told himself sternly. Pulling his short sword from his ring storage and holding it in readiness by his side he declared, OK Misty, signaling he was ready for the next phase. Jeff fell down a blue beam through a void, dimly lit by distant nebulae and stars. This time, the journey was much faster, either because it utilized the in-System transport tech, or because the distance was much smaller. After only a few seconds he found himself standing on level ground once again. Jeff took a moment to look at his surroundings. He was outdoors this time; an azure, Earth-like sky stretched overhead, punctuated occasionally with white cumulus clouds. He stood in the midst of a vast plain which went on for miles in all directions, unbroken save for a solitary mountain looming in the near distance. The ground underfoot was hard compacted clay of some sort, with the occasional lowly shrub or weed poking through. It was only when he turned to look behind him, at the sky, that any feeling of familiarity deserted him. Hanging there, embedded in the blue sky, was a mind-boggling sight. The light and warmth on the back of Jeffs neck was produced by no stellar object Jeff had ever heard of. Instead of the usual orb of burning gas that Jeff had expected to see, there glared back at him what looked like a giganticflower? Squinting against the peculiar yellow-tinted glare produced by the strange star-flower, Jeff struggled to make out more details. No stem or stalk held the thing in place, it simply hung therea testament to the Vogels, (or the Systems) technological prowess. Something like a daisys blossom in structure, the central part of the flower gave off a stream of pure white light, while the eight huge petals were a brilliant yellow in color. The construct gave a pleasant warmth, and Jeff felt himself start to perspire with the added bulk of the chain mail. Seeing no immediate threat, Jeff stowed the armor in his ring, but kept the gladius in his hand, just in case. A new system notification popped up. Objective: Journey through the testing grounds to reach the Tantalus Portal within the time limit. Stay alive. A flashing yellow arrow appeared in his vision, insistently pointing towards the distant mountains peak. Above the summit an icon hovered, labeled Tantalus, and a countdown started ticking down in the periphery of his vision. He had just under 24 hours to reach the destination. Once again, Jeff felt as though he had been tricked. He had assumed from conversations with Misty that he would arrive instantly in Tantalus, not a trek away. Sighing, Jeff shelved any hopes of sleeping in a real bed and a hot meal, and started trudging in the direction of the mountain. Chapter Sixteen鈥擠isconnect Bounding across the arid, barren landscape, Fracta followed the glowing arrow towards the mountain in the distance. Her eight limbs, more suited for traversing the cavernous interiors of hollowed out asteroids, struggled with the weight of the higher gravity; on this world her mass was twice as much as she was used to. Fractas people, the Tesek, had long ago let slip the surly bonds of their geologically unstable home-world, preferring instead the micro-gee environment of the asteroids. Nevertheless she was making good progress, with over one hundred and thirty two chronos remaining on the countdown to reach Tantalus. Once more she attempted to connect to the Hive, pouring all of her energies into establishing a link. Once more she was met with failure. A numbing sense of emptiness enveloped her, not just due to her ravenous hunger. Never had she felt so alone in all her life. It was well understood among her people that to be out of contact with the Hive_Gestalt for this length of time could cause serious, sometimes irreversible psychological damage. For that reason, the Teseks most recent exploratory forays into the outer planetary system and the Oort Cloud had required the strategic placement of hive relays along the way, allowing the collective empathic flow to reach the intrepid colonists. When the Vogels warship had plowed into their star-system and announced that she had been selected as champion of her people, the elders had quickly created a Hive Seed. This precious resource was a repository of racial energy, a reservoir of their collective will to fortify her on her journey, bolstering her psyche and giving her the strength to carry on. Reaching into her marsupial pouch with a pedipalp, she brushed against the warm, glowing Seed. Touching the Hive Seed boosted her courage brieflycomforting images of her familial sub-clutch and gland-mothers nest streamed into her mind; Fracta managed to shrug off the disconnection fugue, and set her sights on the mountain and the Tantalus entrance at the top, now coming into view. Her shifty AI had promised her a decent meal awaited her in Tantalus. The mountain was steep sided, almost perfectly conical in shape, crowned with a flat plateau at the top upon which the portal sat. Now that she had halved the distance to the base of the mountain, Fracta could see a set of stairs cut into the the sheer rock slopes, spiraling around the flanks of the mountain and ending at the pinnacle. Fracta judged that the staircase began halfway round the right side of the mountain, so she adjusted her trajectory accordingly. Opting for The Scout Class had seemed the obvious choice. Any Skills which boosted stealth and speed were a natural fit for her; her people were already well attuned to their environment, masters of perception and guile. Now, after the Class evolution, she felt incredibly aware of her surroundings, her senses fine-tuned to an almost supernatural degree. Swiveling her eye stalks to take a look on either side, Fracta noticed that she was not alone; to her immediate left she spied an upright figure, also walking in the general direction of the mountain. On her right she saw another shape, also flanking her and heading directly towards the bottom of the stone staircase. In the farther distance to her left and right she saw yet more figures, all of them heading towards the same point, the mountain directly ahead of her. Fracta predicted that all their paths would converge shortly before reaching the base of the mountain. Her peripheral vision suddenly alerted her to a potential danger. The figure walking parallel to her on her right had simultaneously sped up and altered course slightly, meaning their paths would intersect long before reaching the base of the mountain. The cilia covering her thorax and abdomen involuntarily stood upright, pigmented chromatophores in the surface of her skin activating, causing her to change color rapidly - an involuntary process from an evolutionary past designed to scare off predators. When the approaching figure was only a couple of hundred meters from her, her worst fears were realized. It uttered a bestial roar and charged quickly across the remaining space separating them. Fracta scrutinized the creature as it hove into view. Something about it, a certain feeling of realness, confirmed that this was a fellow Contestant and not a System generated fabrication. The yellow display window hovering above its head confirmed this. NAME: Ztiral RACE: Tawg, Grade J HIT POINTS (HP): 90/90 +10 MANA POINTS (MP): 30/30 REWARD: 230 Coins Total Attribute Points (TAP): 89 Bearing down on her rapidly was a creature that would be at home in the worst nightmares of her people; a red hued insectoid fully 3 meters in length, its carapace clad in overlapping shielded segments. The beast ran on four legs, with a peculiar skittering gait that kicked up clouds of dust as it powered across the desert towards her. The alien, designated a Tawg by the System, was equipped with two further manipulators at the front, one holding a long metallic spear of some kind. At the other end of its long abdomen, a large stinger extended out, curving back to hover menacingly over its head. From ridges inset in the front of its carapace, two beady black eyes stared menacingly at her; below them a grim mouthlike orifice was guarded on either side by a couple of ever moving mandibles. Belying its animalistic first impression, the creature had some sort of crude electronic component bolted to its head, no doubt some sort of mental augmentation. An overpowering aura of killing intent emanated from the thing, extending several meters all around. Waves of almost palpable hatred swept over Fracta, causing her to shudder and lose concentration briefly. Glory to the Tawg Empire! And Clan Maboa! it shouted. Fracta had no time to wonder how the creature was able to speak perfect, unaccented Tesek, before it was upon her. Fracta immediately made use of one of her new Skills, [Shadow Walker], and to the insectoid, it was as if she simply vanished into thin air. Moving quickly, Fracta ran in a circle around it, excreting a double thread of silk from the spinnerets at the end of her abdomen. After a couple of circuits, the Tawg became completely wrapped up in the sticky threads, which despite their fragile appearance were stronger than steel. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Fractas race had long ago fled their home-world, a tectonically unstable planet prone to violent earthquakes and volcanoes. Shrugging off the surly bonds of gravity, they chose instead to move into space, and populated their star systems asteroid belt. Evolving in low gravity for centuries had tweaked and improved some of their natural abilities, such as web spinning. Unable to maintain its balance, the Tawg stumbled, tripping over its own legs, and sat down heavily on the ground, temporarily incapacitated. Deciding to beat a hasty retreat, Fracta immediately powered forward across the desert plain, heading towards the staircase at the base of the mountain. Her [Shadow Walker] Skill had already started to fade as she moved rapidly away. Abruptly, she came to a hard stop, in excruciating agony. Looking back along the length of her body, she saw the heel of Ztirals spear protruding, the rest of its length embedded between her sternum and abdomen, pinning her to the dusty desert floor. A Grade J Contestant has critically injured you. You are bleeding internally. Ongoing damage received. Warning! Your HP is low at 50% Bearing down on her fast was the red insectoid, roaring in fury, still partially wrapped in tattered lengths of her spun silk. Bracing herself against the pain, Fracta pushed her abdomen upwards and to the side with all of her limbs, freeing her from impalement and leaving the spear still stuck in the ground. Groaning in pain, she hastily pulled a health potion from the black ring on her right pedipalp and sucked it up with her chelicera. Warmth spread through her abdomen, the magical liquid coursing down into her core, knitting together the damaged tissue and soothing the pain of the wound. Spinning around to face the Tawg bearing down on her, she cried angrily Why are you doing this? whilst simultaneously guessing the answer. It dawned on her that The Tawg would both gain coins from killing her, and at the same time eliminate a potential rival in the upcoming tournament. A child of the Tesek race would never have thought along such lines. Harmony, cooperation and empathy were enshrined in their society from birth. We dont need to fight. We can help each other! She cried out in one last, desperate attempt to derail the Tawg from the course it was intent on. Pathetic! The creature snarled, Tawg does not parlay with aliens. Tawg over all! Hissed the insectoid coldly, before activating another Skill, causing the air to quiver around Fracta. Fracta tried to move away from Ztiral, attempting to gain some more space to defend herself, only to discover that the Skill the insectoid had deployed was some kind of ranged debuff attack, designed to slow down an opponent; as a result of the status effect, Fracta felt as though she was wading through a thick gel, every movement felt about three times slower than normal. Thinking quickly, she utilized the other Class Skill in her arsenal, [Paper Weight], which compensated, speeding up her movements and decreasing the pull of gravity. Running sideways, she went on the attack and sped towards the insectoid, who was taken by surprise with the failure of his Skill and her sudden change of tactics. You have evaded a Skill Based Offensive AttackYour Speed Attribute has risen by 1 Scuttling rapidly up its flank, Fracta latched herself onto the insectoids back and, using a long-bladed knife she had looted from an NPC during a training phase, stabbed down through one of the gaps in the creatures armor. Bright pink blood welled up from the wound she had created. In response, the Tawg, roaring in pain, attempted to hit her with its fearsome stinger, stabbing down at her repeatedly. Still boosted by the [Paper Weight] Skill, she evaded its strikes, jinking from side to side nimbly while retaining her commanding position astride the monster. Stabbing down through another gap in the Tawgs armor, Fracta managed to once again draw blood. Despite this, she noticed that the creature had lost very little HP as a result of her attacks, whereas she had only half her Hit Points remaining, despite the healing effects of the store bought potion. Abruptly, the Tawg activated all four of its legs, propelling itself high into the air and then crashing back down, causing Fracta to lose her footing. Tumbling off the insects back, she slammed onto the ground in front of it, momentarily stunned. The Tawg quickly seized advantage and grabbed her third limb with one of its manipulators, which Fracta now saw were equipped with shear like claws at the end. Snip and her leg was gone. Clear hemolymph began to ooze from the stump, and Fracta wailed in agony. She knew instinctively that the leg would eventually regrow, but the sight of the empty space where her third limb should be sent a visceral shiver of fear through her. A Grade J Contestant has injured you The insectoid chuckled harshly, sensing her fear and seeming to relish her pain. It moved forward, reaching out for another of her limbs to snip off. Suddenly it froze in mid-lunge, its senses alerted to a movement nearby. Fracta looked round also, grateful for any cessation in the fighting, however temporary. Striding towards them from their left was a strange, upright creature, tottering along on two limbs, with another pair of limbs hanging uselessly at its side. NAME: Jeff Nostro RACE: Human, Grade J HIT POINTS (HP): 80/80 +10 MANA POINTS (MP): 70/70 REWARD: 230 Coins Total Attribute Points (TAP): 125 Fracta took the opportunity to scuttle back whilst the Tawg was distracted by the biped, but did not attempt to escape the scene immediately. Instead, she took another look at the strange figure facing them. In shape it reminded her somewhat of a medicinal plant root the elders grew in the caverns of Aureli, used to treat constipation. A stubby, hair topped node sat at the top of a columnar-like trunk, equipped with fleshy protuberances on either side, no doubt some form of sensory apparatus, plus a beak like structure in the middle above which two startlingly blue eyes resided. The being was covered in a fleshy, delicate looking outer skin, over which it wore garments of some kind. It proceeded to open its pink rimmed, slit like mouth, and spoke. Hey buddy, I think we are all here for the same reasonthe survival of our species. Lets take a minute and talk this through. The biped paused, waiting for a response. Once again Fracta noted that the creature, or Jeff as she noted from system dialog box hovering above it, spoke clear unaccented Tesek. No doubt the system was applying the same translate function to all of the entrants. Fractas first impressions of the Human were nuanced: an immense aura of calm laced withirrepressible good humor. Beneath Jeffs cheerful exterior, Fracta detected a steely, uncompromising resolve. Fracta immediately spoke up. Jeff, I agree. I too wish only for peace. Ztiral, I beg you, reconsider your tactics. Ztiral growled and reached down to pick up his spear, lying in the dust at his feet. Weak, decadent, degenerate. I will gain great honor from destroying you both, and thus eradicating your species from the universe. Wrong answer, pal. Jeff sighed, a short sword appearing in his hand. The fight that followed was brutal, but short. Fracta harried the Tawg, sniping occasionally with her knife and entangling its limbs with her silk, whilst Jeff darted around it, hacking off appendages with his sword, empowered with a Skill that enabled him to slice through the monsters armor-like integument. Fracta observed Jeffs fighting technique and was impressed with both his Skills and physical strength. He seamlessly switched between magic-based attacks and sheer physical lethality, making the best use of his MP reserves. The turning point in the battle came when Fracta successfully managed to distract Ztiral, temporarily entangling its legs once again in sticky silk, which allowed Jeff the opportunity to jump up onto its carapace and deal the fatal blow, his Skill-empowered blade slicing effortlessly through the red shell between the head and the thorax, effectively decapitating the creature. Finally, Fracta and Jeff stood side by side over the Tawgs smashed and dissected corpse. For a moment they stood in silence, their mood strangely jubilant but at the same time somber, as they both knew that the demise of Ztiral condemned its entire species to death or enslavement by the Vogels. Jeff directed his piercing blue eyes towards Fracta, and she noted the corners of his mouth quirk upwards slightly; reading his aura, she detected a note of amusement as he spoke. Hi Fracta, Im Jeff. Good to meet you He held out one of his upper limbs, the five digits at the end pointing towards her. Fracta hesitated for a moment, still disturbed by the humans bizarre anatomy. However, realizing this was a symbolic moment, she also extended one of her pedipalps towards the man, cilia along its length lighting up and strobing a rainbow patter of friendship. All of a sudden, Fracta didn''t feel quite so alone anymore. Chapter Seventeen - Ally As the dust settled from the battle against the the Tawg, Jeff had cautiously approached the enormous multi-limbed creature, uncertain of its intentions. It, or rather Fracta as he noted from her system stats, was around five feet high, and around eight feet in length, her roughly oval shape made up of a collection of long limbs jutting from a central body. Her physiognomy was similar in some ways to an Earthly cephalopod, but with rigid limbs like an arachnid. The multi-colored fur covering her body was more mammalian in nature than anything else. Her collection of eyes examined Jeff, her mandibles clicking softly. Despite the fact that a giant fur covered bug-eyed monster, straight out of a 50s sci-fi movie stood in front of him, rather than feeling revulsion, he noted that her form possessed an unearthly beauty. Intricate patterns on her carapace ceaselessly rippled; bursts of color passing constantly through the fur-like cilia on her limbs. Jeff had been hesitant at first when he saw the two monsters battling on the barren desert hardpan. The scene had reminded him of some old Ray Harryhausen stop-motion animation movie, something PBS would show on repeat on a rainy Saturday afternoon. A giant multi-limbed alien battling some kind of cyborg scorpion. What changed his mind was that the huge arachnid had not in any way antagonized the Tawg, but rather had been attempting to flee. Thats why he stepped inhe had always hated bullies. After the fight ended, Jeff felt oddly moved when his symbolic gesture of extending a hand in a gesture of friendship had been immediately accepted by Fracta. He realized with a start that this was a historic momentFirst Contact with an alien species. Jeff sensed no malice from Fracta. The opposite in facthe immediately felt comfortable in her presence, despite her alien appearance. "Thank you for your help," Fracta said, her voice surprisingly melodic, each syllable resonating from within her body, though Jeff was unable to detect exactly which orifice the noise emitted from. In fact, Jeff noticed that as she spoke, her limbs tapped a complex pattern on the ground. He guessed that the system was actually translating her alien language into audible speech for his benefit. I am Fracta of sub-clutch 12, tribe 7 grouping. I am here to compete in this Tournament." Jeff processed that silently for a second then responded. I''m Jeff Nostro, from Earth, er.. Georgetown, New York. You fought well back there. That asshole didn''t stand a chance. Fracta tilted her head, considering him with her compound eyes. "I appreciate your assistance, Jeff. I have never been disconnected from my Hive_Gestalt before, and it is disorienting. Your timely arrival was most fortuitous. Jeff stared down at the Tawg one last time. Why did it fight? he wondered aloud. How can an intelligent, sentient species act like this? It chose the path of strife over cooperation. Fracta replied. Unfortunately, it appears to be the norm rather than the exception, she said gloomily. Of course, it would be wonderful if everybody could just get along She went on. Your species and mine must share a comparable world-view, a similar moral and ethical code. We may find that we naturally partner up with others like ourselves. Those who differ from us will probably be our natural enemies. Jeff thought about this for a moment, and decided not to disabuse Fracta immediately about his benevolent nature, or humanitys. Although he wanted to keep his moral compass throughout the course of the tournament, he had decided to do everything in his power to ensure the survival of Earth. Whatever the cost. He looked across at Fracta and hoped there wouldnt come a time where he had to make a painful decision. They took a moment to tend their wounds and divide up Ztirals loot from its storage ring, attached to one claw. As well as his stash of coins, they found a few other items of value in his inventory. Unfortunately, nothing to eat though, Jeff, said Fracta in a disappointed tone, revealing that she too was suffering from the scarcity of food in the Tournament. Jeff noted that the System had been generous with its reward for slaying the Tawghe had gained a full five levels for his contribution in the fight. It seemed that PVP battles offered a much better way of leveling than simply battling NPCs. The 230 Coin bounty for killing the Tawg had been divided equally between them by the Systema reward for dooming a species to genocide and slavery Fracta kept the spear, a beautifully wrought weapon, intricately inscribed with a long fractal like rune down its length. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. [Spear - AetherStrike] - +10 Offense, Grade I (Expandable) Empowered with unerring accuracy, Aetherstrike never misses its intended target. Consumes 10 MP per use. Cooldown: 30 seconds. Jeff took possession of a wicked looking, eight pointed morning star. [Shuriken - Shadars Tooth] + 5 Offense (Not Stackable), Grade J (Expandable). 10 MP per use. When deployed, Shadars Tooth follows a unique trajectory that allows it to return to the thrower''s hand after striking its target or reaching its maximum range. The shuriken''s path can curve around obstacles and corners, making it a versatile and agile weapon. Bonus Ricochet Strike: A 20% chance of ricocheting off solid surfaces or enemies, allowing it to hit multiple targets with a single throw. The shuriken can potentially bounce up to three times before returning to the thrower''s hand. Jeff was happy to add this item to his inventoryhe had been lacking any ranged weaponry and the shuriken would work well with his Class. They decided to use Ztirals ring as a secondary storage device for the remaining items they found, including three potions of healing. Jeff nominated himself as ring-bearer. Jeff tore off a piece of the remaining goblin meat in his inventory and offered it to Fracta. She eagerly accepted and began consuming the flesh, her mandibles making quick work of it. A shiver passed down Jeffs spine at the sight. No vegans hereshe was indeed a carnivorous creature, something he had already suspected based on her formidable mandibles. Jeff finished the remaining piece of jerky, slowly savoring each bite. Before continuing their journey towards the mountain, Jeff decided to take a moment to review his stats.
NAME: Jeff Nostro RACE: Human HIT POINTS (HP): 80/80 (+10*) MANA POINTS (MP): 70/70 Path: Spellsword [Hidden]
  • Path Rewrite: Awarded if 7 tribulations are completed.
  • Tribulations passed: 1/7
GRADE: J, Level 870 (Approaching breakthrough at 1000 to evolve to Grade I) CLASS: Arcane Duelist 1 SKILLS:
  • Physical Fitness (Level 2)
  • Identify (Level 1)
  • High Pain Threshold (Level 4)
  • Combat Proficiency (Level 2)
    • Sub-Skill: [Unarmed Blade] Level 1
  • First Aid (Level 1)
  • Dodge (Level 2)
  • Jump (Level 1)
  • Poison Resistance (Level 1)
  • Mana Essence (Level 1)
CLASS SKILLS:
  • Infinite Sword (Level 1)
  • Cutting Edge (Level 2)
ATTRIBUTES:
  • Strength: 29
  • Speed: 19 (+2*)
  • Vitality: 21 (+2*)
  • Endurance: 20 (+2*)
  • Cognition: 17
  • Offense: 39
  • Defense: 20 (+5*)
  • Total Attribute Points: 165
COINS: 489
As well as leveling up, after the battle with the Tawg his Strength had significantly increased. His Offense attribute was still the highest and the other attribute stats had seen some modest gains as well, but not to the same extent as his Strength had. His Physical Fitness Skill had also leveled, possibly from all the walking hed been doing recently. Remembering a conversation hed had with Misty, Jeff decided to work on developing his other attributes more evenly, in the hope that they would all reach a uniform level by the time he evolved his class. According to the AI, it was always best to evenly balance the growth of attribute points. The timer had been steadily ticking down, and now only 19 hours remained for them to reach the Tantalus Portal. They continued on. As they trekked onwards towards the mountain, Jeff listened intently as Fracta recounted her story. Her voice carried a mix of pride and melancholy as she described her life within the Hive Mind and her selection as her peoples champion. "In the Tesek star system, we live in a vast network of interconnected colonies, where each member of the Hive Mind contributes to the greater good," Fracta began. "We share thoughts and emotions through a psychic link, creating a sense of unity. But it also means that any threat to one is a threat to all. Fracta looked at Jeff, her antennae twitching thoughtfully. "And so, here I am, far from home and disconnected from the Hive Mind. I must rely on my own strength to survive this tournament. Reaching down with one of her grasping limbs to reveal a pouch built in to her abdomen, Fracta pulled out a crystalline green hexagonal prism, glowing with an inner light. This is a Hive Seed. My only connection to the Hive_Gestalt. But the connection is weak I feel.. alone Jeff nodded, impressed by the device and by Fracta''s bravery. As a natural loner he had already overcome his initial feelings of homesickness. He could not comprehend the anguish Fracta, such a communally minded entity, must be going through now. He peered at the emerald prism, wondering what tech it employed to create such a link. His cell phone had no signal so he presumed it used something other than radio waves to connect. Jeff peered up at the clear blue sky overhead. Misty, You there? No answer. Fracta looked at him inquiringly as they walked. Misty, is that the name of your AI? she questioned. Yeah, I guess shes off-line at the moment, Jeff responded, briefly wondering where Misty went whenever she wasnt around to answer his questions. As they approached the base of the mountain, the landscape grew increasingly treacherous. The once-flat terrain transformed into a slope of sharp rocks and deep chasms. Jeff and Fracta made their way across the last two hundred meters of jagged rocks and rubble, cautiously jumping across ravines and sinkholes. Jeff clambered across a jagged rock near the staircase, pulling himself carefully over the obstacle. Fracta, on the other hand, was better suited for this type of terrain. Her natural agility, coupled with her Scout class, helped her to find her way past the treacherous rocks. Her many legs provided stability, and her ability to adhere to surfaces enabled her to traverse even the most precarious of routes. Her carapace had already completely healed from the skirmish, showcasing her impressive healing capabilities. Even the leg that had been amputated by the Tawg had almost finished regenerating. Occasionally, Jeff noticed the familiar yellow haze surrounding her, indicating that she was using her [Paper Weight] skill to ease her passage. The other Contestants they had noticed earlier, heading towards the mountain, were getting closer too, as they all approached their destination simultaneously. Jeff and Fracta eyed them cautiously, wary of another potentially hostile species, but no one made a move to attack. Eventually, they approached the base of the mountain and joined the back of the line. Jeff studied the queue of aliens advancing ahead of them. The Contestants in the queue were all roughly the same age, as far as he could determineearly twenties. While the size, body structure and outer integumentwhether skin, fur, or scalesvaried wildly, he noticed a distinct pattern emerging. The crowd seemed to divide into two main types. One group, like himself and Fracta, was dressed in a relatively mundane fashion, outfitted with cheap low-Grade Store-bought weaponry. Jeff recognized their armor and clothing from the Store catalog. The other half were distinctly different in appearance. These Contestants were adorned with potent talismans, intricately inscribed runic weaponry, and advanced armor. Their skin or scales bore glowing tattoospotent runes that emanated powerful energy signatures, no doubt enhancing their Skills or attributes. Their appearance spoke of wealth, privilege and prior-preparation. Jeff and Fracta exchanged nods with the other beings ahead of them, simultaneously eying up each others stats on their System displays. All the while, more Contestants arrived and lined up behind them. The mood up and down the queue seemed generally sombre, no doubt all the World Champions were intensely aware of the fact that they were staking their lives for the survival of their species. Jeff and Fracta, hoping to glean some valuable intel, attempted to engage their fellow Tournament Contestants in conversation. Chapter Eighteen鈥擬ore Allies Immediately in front of Jeff stood a hulking, fur-covered ape-like man, towering at eight feet tall. His massive nose and pendulous earlobes gave him an imposing appearance, further accentuated by the giant cudgel gripped in his handa weapon that gave off a potent, powerful aura. The giant was clad in a medieval-style smock, cinched at the waist, with a wide leather belt adorned with glowing runes. Despite his brutish features, there was a sharp glint of intelligence in his eyes and a calm demeanor that softened his fearsome presence. The System identified the Sasquatch as Bernard, and Jeff found himself warming to the creature immediately. After striking up a conversation, he found Bernard to be a mine of useful information about their current predicament. NAME: Bernard ChAranastik RACE: Effsiks Sasquatch, Grade J HIT POINTS (HP): 60/60 MANA POINTS (MP): 30/30 REWARD: 230 Coins Total Attribute Points (TAP): 76 System Blessings upon you, Bernard greeted in a booming but friendly voice, peering down at Jeff curiously. I am unable to identify your species, little friend. Are you newly arrived in the System-universe? Jeff was grateful to the giant ape for making the effort to be friendly, relieved to find that not all harbored hostility like the Tawg. Through their ensuing conversation, Bernard confirmed his suspicions about the composition of the crowd of Contestants. Roughly half of the assembled crowd were long-time System dwellers, while the others, like Jeff and Fracta, were fresh arrivalsnoobs in every sense. As the System-universe expanded ever onwards through the Multiverse, mundane universes like Jeffs were inevitably consumed on a daily basis, their inhabitants joining the vast and varied populations scattered across the Outer Fringes. Some even said that the multiverse itself was an artificial creation of the Makers, an ancient race of aliens. The theory went that Jeffs universe, and all the others were simply fuel for the Systems continual expansion. Jeff continued quizzing the Sasquatch and learned another interesting fact. According to Bernard, time itself functioned differently within the System. The closer you travelled to its center, the faster time moved. The Old Masters of the Outer Core live a thousand mortal lifetimes in the blink of an eye, little man, Bernard intoned, his voice choked with religious zeal. As he spoke, he lifted his head up to a point in the sky, eyes glazing over as if in worship. Bernards long pendulous earlobes swung back and forth rhythmically like twin metronomes as he chanted what was obviously some form of prayer. At the Omega Point, there can be only oneAt the Omega Point, there can be only one At the Omega Point, there can be only one Jeff stared, mesmerized by the strange creature and his odd ritual. Around them, other System dwellers dotting the queue took up the refrain, their voices merging together as they all chanted with ecstatic fervor. At the Omega Point, there can be only one Jeff, Fracta and the other newcomers to the System-universe looked on, bemused, exchanging bewildered glances. After Bernards had finished his observations and the chanting had died down, the queue resumed its slow forward progress. Jeff spent the next hour quizzing him for more information about the System, his religious beliefs and the Tournament itself. Bernard explained he was required by his faith to recite a prayer at a certain time each day, always while facing the center of the System-universe. The ritual was more than just empty wordsaccording to Bernard, something called Faith-energy was generated in the process. This energy could be allocated to any number of powerful entities, inhabiting the Core. He chose to allocate his Faith-energy to his personal deity, Abgernath, a primordial being from whom, Bernard believed, all Sasquatches were descended. In return, this god provided certain benefits to its followers, though Bernard was deliberately vague about the details. Abgernath watches over me, he declared solemnly, voice heavy with conviction. I feel his presence even now, guiding my steps. In my time of need, the Master will be my salvationas long as I continue to strive for perfection by following the catechisms, honoring the ashes of my ancestors, ever aiming for the Omega Point. Though further conversation with Bernard, Jeff managed to piece together some of the Sasquatch''s history. Bernards people had onceperhaps more than oncebeen a respected member-race of the System, only to be cast out long ago due to internecine politics. The furred giants people, over the eons, had teetered on the verge of qualifying for membership within the Systems so-called Community of Equalsoccasionally gaining a foothold before being cast out once again. Expelled to the Outer Fringes, where, as Bernard put it time ground slow they had been forced to struggle for survival ever since. Now Bernard found himself competing in the Tournament to save his species from extinction. For millions of years we have struggled and fought, Bernard said, his voice heavy with the burden of history. Our people strive to survive but then BANG! We get knocked down again. There was a deep, almost supernatural fatalism in his tone. Although Bernard was relatively knowledgeable about their current situation, his alien thought patterns and the rigid constraints of his esoteric religion gave him a fatalistic air. His strange belief system contained over ten thousand commandments, dictating every conceivable choice of action. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. The Effsiks race is much weakened, Bernard added sadly, almost whispering, his eyes still fixed on that distant point in the sky. And a new evil rises in the center With a sigh, the huge yeti-like being turned his face towards Jeff. Well met, little man, well met. Bernard grunted, squeezing Jeffs hand in a giant paw. Jeff turned his attention to the Contestant further along the line, a tall young woman with striking features resembling a human emo/goth girl, complete with dark eyes and jet-black hair. Her extremely pale, almost translucent skin accentuated her outlandish look, further accentuated by the strange black figure-hugging outfit she wore. On closer examination, what had at first appeared to be heavy makeup was actually naturally occurring black lips and fingernails. NAME: Wenwyn RACE: Quiquene, Grade J HIT POINTS (HP): 70/70 MANA POINTS (MP): 40/50 REWARD: 230 Coins Total Attribute Points (TAP): 86 Jeff studied the woman, mentally tagging her as the Goth girl, appreciating her black, skintight clothing that left little to the imagination. However, he noticed that although she was attractive, her proportions seemed slightly offsomething about the ratio of her collarbone to the length of her arms gave her a gangly, overly slender appearance. Suddenly, aware of his attention, Wenwyns skin flared a brilliant red, while her hair and fingernails turning a deep mauve. Jeff was stunned to realize that what he had assumed was a tight bodysuit was actually her skin; the woman was completely naked, with the ability to change the color of her body at will. Wenwyn, in turn, studied him frankly, eying his ripped physique, her gaze traveling the length of his body. Strange she murmured, almost Quiquene, but not quite Wenwyns people, much like Bernards, had prior knowledge of the System-universe. According to their legends, they had once served as a client race to the Autochs. But after becoming collateral damage during a genocidal conflictknown to them as the Cataclysmthey were exiled to the fringes of the System, their home planet expelled by a massive, destructive explosion. Like the Effsiks, it had taken Wenwyns people millennia to claw their way back from the brink of extinction. They had preserved fragments of myth and lore, but nothing useful regarding the preliminary rounds of the Tournament. The consensus amongst academics and historians is that the next few rounds of the Tournament will test our strength in many ways. Just exactly how, we do not know Bernard grunted in agreement, but had no further detail to add. Both Bernard and Wenwyn had chosen to exit the training environment earlier than Jeff and Fracta, driven by hunger and their AIs enticing promise of fine dining in Tantalus. However, they had discovered to their chagrin that cutting the training short gained them nothing. Instead, it resulted in a much longer and arduous journey to the mountain, leaving them stranded over a hundred miles further from their destination than Jeff had been. Bernard and Wenwyn had met up along the way, and through a series of shared adventuresfighting off rogue Contestants and battling hostile faunathey had obviously forged a strong bond. Fracta meanwhile had attempted to engage with two more people who arrived after them, but had no other useful information to report. A common preoccupation amongst all of the Tournament Contestants was the subject of food. Im so hungry. I cant think straightdo they mean to starve us? Wenwyn moaned in a voice tinged with desperation. Bernards stomach emitted a loud, grumbling sound, as if in sympathy with her words. Jeff thought a moment, then took out the Ahud nut he had received from the NPC King. With a swift blow of his sword he sliced the nut in half. Storing one half, he broke the remaining portion into several small pieces and handed them out to his newfound companions. Bernard and Wenwyn, who looked pale and drained from their lack of nourishment, were extremely grateful for the gesture. By Fulgars Mighty Blade, that is most kind of you, Jeff! Wenwyn said, between mouthfuls of the creamy nut. As they got closer to the head of the queue, word filtered back down the line that there were two possible ways to reach the top of the mountain. Either climb a staircase cut into the rock face, or pay a hefty fee to facilitate a speedier ascent. The pair rounded an obscuring rock and saw that ahead of them there was some sort of toll booth set up at the base of the stairs. The people at the head of the queue seemed to be entering into a discussion or haggling with the occupant of the booth, before moving on up the mountain. Eventually their turn came. Leaning out through a hatch in the simple wooden booth was another horned Ejdar. The small red, gnomish creature had a bulbous nose, pointed ears that seemed too large for its head, and wiry black hair. His eyes were a piercing shade of magenta, staring impassively at them as they approached. NAME: Mahalath RACE: Ejdar Grade: H HIT POINTS (HP): Hidden MANA POINTS (MP): Hidden REWARD: Hidden "Evening," he grunted at them as they approached, despite the fact that the star-flower was still directly overhead, hanging in the exact same position it had been at when they first set foot on the planet. Jeff squinted at the stellar construct briefly, noting that two of the petals seemed to have dimmed their output. The yellowish light had darkened to a darker umber shade. Come to mention it, the temperature seemed to have dropped slightly. "Fastpass, get your fastpass here," rasped the impish creature, waving a book of paper tickets above its head. Jeff and Fracta approached the booth and got a good look at the staircase for the first time. Now that they were up close, they saw that there were actually two staircases next to each other, both climbing in a spiraling path around the mountain to the mist-shrouded summit. One was a rough-hewn stone staircase, seemingly cut out of the living rock of the mountain. Next to it, separated by a yellow hazy force field of some type, was an escalator, a sleek futuristic moving staircase which looked strangely out of place next to the stone steps. Jeff peered up the dual sets of stairs and conferred briefly with Fracta, Bernard and Wenwynby the speed at which the moving stairs proceeded up the mountain, using them would probably reduce the journey time to the top by a factor of at least five. Jeff had already made up his mind to stick with Fracta for the time being, feeling that they had worked well together in a combat situation. There is always more than one path to the top of a mountain, Bernard said cryptically. Jeff was certain he was speaking both metaphorically and literally. "How much for a ticket?" Jeff inquired of the red-skinned Ejdar, taking the lead in the exchange. Fracta watched on, confused by the whole concept of free-market capitalism and the exchange of tokens for goods and services. "500 coins each," the Ejdar rasped, a greedy glint appearing in its eyes. That was more money than Jeff had in his possession, although through conversation with Fracta, he knew she had over 600 coins. Suspiciously, Jeff knew that their combined balance would be just enough for two tickets, but they would be cleaned out. Jeff couldnt help but wonder if the price of the ticket was somehow means-tested; had the Ejdar adjusted the price knowing the sum total of their combined coins? Jeff asked Fracta her opinion. "What do you think? Spend all our funds or climb the mountain the old-fashioned way? Fracta deliberated for a second. "Let''s walk up. Im not convinced the fastpass is worth it" Jeff also sensed a trick of some kind. Entering Tantalus with no funds seemed a tactical error to him. Plus, he wanted to grind some more and work on his stats, to try to get closer to leveling up before hitting the next stage of the Tournament. The Ejdar cranked up his marketing a gear. "Bloodthirsty predators with razor-sharp claws and teeth are eager to feast on your entrails... They lurk in the shadows!" He ended the obviously rehearsed speech with a screech. The dire warnings of the Ejdar grew fainter behind them as they continued past the booth and joined the line making their way up the rough hewn stone staircase. Chapter Nineteen鈥擳he Ascent Due to their debilitating hunger, Bernard and Wenwyn had decided to spend their remaining Coins on the Fastpass, swiftly disappearing up the glowing escalator. I cant take it any more. Bernard said as they turned to leave. Im so hungry, I could eat a scabby orc Jeff and Fracta, however, joined the gaggle of other Contestants who, for one reason or another, had spurned the easy option, and began to climb the mountain the old-fashioned way. The air grew thinner and more frigid as they ascended, making each breath a struggle. A brisk wind picked up, nudging them as they walked up the ancient stone stairs, causing them to occasionally stumble. The wind howled through the crags around them, a whistling chorus that threatened to blow them off the treacherous mountainside. It soon became obvious that the star-flowers output was continuing to reduceby now, half the petals were worn out and the color of light produced was changing to a colder, bluer hue. As they continued upwards the cold increased incrementally. A thick layer of ice coated every surface, glistening in the weak sunlight. Huge icicles, some the length of telegraph poles, hung threateningly from the rocks above the increasingly precarious stairway. Eventually what had been real steps degenerated into mere hand and foot holds, slippery with ice. Jeff was finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate on the climb as the harsh weather began to take its toll. The intensifying cold and biting windchill were numbing his hands and feet, making it hard to concentrate on the trail. His clothing was woefully inadequate for the conditionshis torn, soaked-through cotton shirt offered little protection, and his combat pants, though durable, were showing increasing signs of wear and tear. Fracta, on the other hand, seemed to be faring better; her fur-like cilia had puffed up, forming a protective barrier against the bitterly cold wind. Jeff was momentarily distracted from the cold by a peculiar sight; when he toggled on his [Mana Essence] Skill he noticed extremely dense blue clouds of glowing raw mana coalescing between crevices; the flow of mana was so strong in places it had condensed from a gaseous state to a liquid. The pair splashed through increasingly large standing pools and flowing rivulets of mana as they continued to negotiate the rocky slope. Jeff noticed the flow of mana increasing incrementally around them as they climbed higher, the glare emitted by some of the concentrations was so dazzling he was forced to experiment with the settings of [Mana Essence], reducing the input so as not to be blinded. Experimenting, he activated the [Infinite Sword] skill, smashing a row of icicles hanging from a nearby rocky outcrop with his gladius. Fracta eyed him curiously. As usual, activating the Skill caused his MP to drop by almost a third as a result. Reaching out, Jeff stuck his hand into a trapped pool of mana, glinting brightly in a rocky concavity. Concentrating, he was able to pull the super concentrated mana into his Core in a fast transfer, replenishing his mana in seconds, a move which would normally have taken fifteen minutes at least. You have fully replenished your mana. MP: 70/70 Congratulations! Your Mana Essence Skill has now reached Level 2 Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 871 Jeff passed on the intel to Fracta.At least we wont run out of mana up here. Fracta displayed confusion, cocking her cephalothorax at him, sidelong. Jeff went over his experience with channeling mana during the training sessionsIt turned out she had not made the same breakthrough as he had, nor had she gained the [Mana Essence] Skill. They proceeded upwards. Jeff and Fracta stuck together, maintaining a steady pace despite the cold and uneven terrain, but the line of other Contestants began to elongate, a large proportion of them beginning to struggle already. As the ascent entered its second hour, the pace of some of the climbers faltered, the weaker ones lagging behind. As they began to pass slower, weakerpeople further on up the trail, Jeff and Fracta called out words of encouragement, sometimes stopping to help the less able ones across ravines and more difficult stretches of the route. Concern began to gnaw at Jeff as they continued their arduous ascent. The rough-hewn staircase was full of jagged twists and cutbacks, steepening on occasion to an almost vertical anglemore akin to hand and footholds than steps. Sharp edged overhangs hindered their passage and Jeff was sometimes forced to crawl on hands and knees along switchbacks and up narrow crevasses. Both of them had been awake for a considerable amount of time without rest, and the countdown timer showed a mere 12 hours remaining. His mind was plagued with more general worries about the tournament and his overall chances of success. A heavy pall of existential dread began to settle over him; his shoulders slumped, and his pace slowed. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. "Jeff you are such a pathetic loser" a sinister voice whispered in his ear. "Just give up. You''ll never make it in time Jeff looked around sharply. Fracta had also paused, her antennae swiveling this way and that in confusion. Did you hear that? Jeff questioned, the vicious, bone-chilling wind whipping the words out of his mouth. Fracta nodded, her antennae twitching with foreboding. "Indeed. I sense a fell aura on the breeze. It is as if the mountain is playing mind games with us. Now Jeff realized the source of his anxiety, and felt strangely relieved. Just another System-generated trick. Squaring his shoulders, he steeled himself against the taunting whispers and psi-attacks and pressed onward up the stairs. Shrugging off the lingering psychological effects of the psi-attack, they pressed on, pausing only when they came across another World Champion, slumped to the side of the narrow staircase. The man squatted forlornly on the ground, a thin covering of snow and ice already beginning to soften his profile against the black rocks of the mountain. Come on man, on your feet, Jeff said gently, laying a hand on the mans snow-clad shoulder. Their attempts to encourage the Contestant to his feet were to no avail, the man had already succumbed to the cold and the debilitating effects of the mind attack. Jeff and Fracta shared a look, realizing that they were not in a position to save the man. Numbly, Jeff turned his back and continued, knowing he was dooming the player and his entire race, but unable to think of any other logical alternative. Twice they saw other Contestants breezing past them on the fastpass escalator. First came a small bipedal humanoid, dressed in autumnal colors and bearing a bow across its back. Next was a strange Ent-like bipedal tree creature, its branch like wooden limbs complete with leaves. In place of hair, a hedge of bright green shrubbery hung down, like a weeping willow. Its gnarled and knotted face peered back at them curiously through the hazy barrier between the two staircases as it ascended. Each time, the duo were beset by doubts. Fools! You should have taken the fastpass the System-generated mindfuckery whispering in their ears, until finally after another fifteen minutes of this they were both rewarded with a new notification: You have successfully evaded a Psi-AttackYour Cognition Attribute has risen by 1 Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 872 Several more times, they passed by other Contestants who had not been able to resist the mind attack. Their already frozen corpses littered the trail ahead, hoarfrost forming over their still forms. Rounding the flank of the mountain, they were abruptly presented with an unexpected sight: a large plateau cut into the side of the mountain, invisible from the ground. An entire chunk of the mountain seemed to have been sheared off, as if with a gigantic laser, creating a flat expanse bordered by an abyssal drop on one side and towering vertical cliffs on the other. The jagged escarpment was peppered with shadowy cave mouths, so dark they couldnt see their interiors. Several waterfalls of brilliant blue liquid mana gushed down the side of the cliff face, the fluid accumulating in pools at the talus. Lumps of cerulean-tinged scree piled up around the plunge pools, as though the very rock was imbued with mana. At any other time, Jeff would have been struck by the sheer beauty of the scenethe ethereal blue glow contrasting spectacularly with the starkness of the plateaubut a foreboding sensation of being watched from on high hurried their steps. They headed quickly towards the beckoning staircase on the other side of the icy plateau, around 200 yards ahead. As they approached the first cave mouth set in the looming cliff face above them, they heard a weird chirping, tweeting sound emanating from the entrance, growing in volume as they drew parallel. A dark shape flashed from the cavern, a black bird of prey fully two meters in wingspan, Its stark red beak and claws outstretched, heading straight for them. Fractas legs twitched, beating an involuntary tattoo of alarm. Aerial attackers, {untranslatable} watch the skies, Jeff, an atavistic note of terror in her voice. Jeff noted that the system had broken down or glitched slightly for a moment, unable to render an understandable interpretation of something Fracta had said. Perhaps her species had an ancestral fear of birds, he wondered, in the same way humans had of snakes, orspiders? Dark Cave Roc, Grade JHIT POINTS (HP): 10/10 MANA POINTS (MP): 10/10 REWARD: 10 Coins Jeff quickly held his gladius in readiness, but the winged threat passed him by, instead targeting Fracta, who cried out another untranslatable phrase and reflexively crouched down, her eight limbs bending to reduce her profile against the rock. The cave roc emitted a warbling cry as it passed overhead. Parrot-like, it whistled and then actually proceeded to speak, grating out words. Die, worms, it cawed, as it lazily flapped its black feathered wings, easily maintaining a hovering stance above Fracta.Intermittently, the huge avian predator darted in to snap at her with its beak, aiming for her vulnerable eyestalks. Pulling back slightly, she recovered her poise. Raising her newly acquired spear, Aetherstrike, she launched it skyward at the feathery menace, impaling the bird with unerring accuracy and knocking it over the edge of the escarpment. The magical weapon immediately shot back up the side of the mountain, returning to her outstretched palp, boomerang style. Cool spear. Jeff grunted, already noticing more movement at the other various cave entrances dotting the rock face to their left. A steady stream of cave rocs spewed forth, streaming down from the tunnels set in the precipice, darkening the sky with their passage. Again, Jeff heard something like speech. Utterances such as groundlings, grubs, no feathers, pluck and feed mixed in amongst the unintelligible squawks and tweets. Oh crapwere gonna get mobbed gulped Jeff, readying his sword, but wishing wholeheartedly that he had a shotgun or flamethrower instead. In moments, the pair were engulfed in a maelstrom of ebony feathers, razor sharp beaks, and talons. Fracta seemed to fade partially out of existence, activating her [Shadow Walker] skill. The birds could no longer see her clearly, so she was able to harry the flock with some impunity. Jeff saw a streamer of silk shooting skyward to entangle a bird, causing it to plummet down the side of the mountain, pinwheeling out of control.Occasionally, cooldown period permitting, she threw her spear upwards, making shish kebab out of another hapless birdie. With each successful strike, she let out another untranslatable curse aimed at the circling birds. Woohoo Fracta! You rock, girl! Jeff cheered her on, interested to note that Fracta harbored such enmity towards birds. Unfortunately for Jeff, he was now the only visible target, and soon found himself under attack from all sides. Chapter Twenty鈥擬obbed Letting loose with [Infinite Sword] in conjunction with a well-timed swing of his gladius, he was pleased to see it was effective against the raptors. While not killing them outright, two of the cave rocs were disabled and rendered unable to fly. Wings clipped, the birds were forced to land, hopping around the plateau squawking ineffectually. You have cast Infinite Sword. You have injured a Dark Cave Roc. Once, a bird was stupid enough to come into range head on, and Jeff got to unleash [Cutting Edge]. As the bird swooped down towards him, claws extended, Jeff brought the gladius slashing vertically upwards, hacking the avian into two halves. You have cast Cutting Edge. You have killed a Grade J Dark Cave Roc Reward: Two Omega Energy Points You have successfully used your Cutting Edge Skill to slay an enemy! Reward One Omega Energy Point Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 873 Lets take turns and give our mana levels a chance to recover, Fracta suggested. Good idea, Jeff replied, standing guard by her side while she deployed her magical spear. Soon however, both Fracta and Jeff were completely out of MP and forced to rely on good ol fashioned brute force. More and more rocs circled them, a seemingly infinite number spewing from the caves above, and Jeffs arm began to tire as he whirled the short-sword round and round his head. His neck ached from the constant need to look upwards. Another factor hampering their defense was the inclement temperature. As the star-flower shed its last remaining petals, and the sky darkened, the mountain cooled even further. A thick layer of rime frost coated every surface, turning the rocky ground under their feet into a treacherous ice rink. Congratulations! Your Combat Proficiency Skill has now reached Level 3 While hacking wildly at the avian predators above him, Jeff suddenly remembered the glowing mana pools at the base of the cliff and had an idea. Fracta! He shouted, this way! Backing in the direction of the nearest pool, he splashed into the translucent blue mana. Concentrating on the ample supply of energy around him, Jeff attempted to pull a stream of the liquid, undiluted mana into his body though his feet and legs. A trickle of mana began to flow through his booted feet and up his legs and into his core, but not nearly enough to recharge his MP levels. Braving the cold, he de-equipped his boots to stand barefoot in the pool, the icy liquid mana chilling his toes. Trying to ignore the freezing cold temperature of the liquid, he concentrated on the pathways running through his legs, pulling the mana up through the soles of his bare feet. This time, the torrent of power that rushed through his limbs into his Core instantly replenished his MP, bringing it back to full. He was once again able to make good use of [Infinite Sword], the ranged attack cutting a swathe through the circling rocs. Jeff maintained his position, standing waist deep in the freezing cold mana pond. He repeated the process several times, deploying the Skill and then recharging until it became second nature. He was able to concentrate on targeting the attackers without worrying about the MP drain. Calling to Fracta, he grasped one of her fur-covered palps in his hand and, closing his eyes, attempted to send a flow of mana her way. At first he felt a resistance, but as Fracta realized what he was trying to do, the flow began to speed up. Pretty soon she was also at full MP. Congratulations! Your Mana Essence Skill has now reached Level 3 System Challenge: Eight becomes OneBreak the Chains of Fate Complete 5 More Tribulations to Rewrite Your Path(Adept) 2/7 Complete Jeff was gratified to note that he had completed the second step in the System Challenge, the Adept Path, through his manipulation of mana. How did you do that, Jeff? Fracta asked in a surprised tone of voice. Jeff shrugged in response. Both fully charged, they lashed out with their Skills at the huge crows with renewed vigor. Fracta was able to throw her mana empowered spear again, but was still limited to roughly one shot a minute due to the long cooldown of the weapon. You have killed a Grade J Dark Cave Roc Reward: Two Omega Energy Points Level up! Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Congratulations. You have reached Level 874 You have successfully used your Cutting Edge Skill to slay an enemy! Reward One Omega Energy Point Your Strength Attribute has risen by 1 You have killed a Grade J Dark Cave Roc Reward: Two Omega Energy Points Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 875 You have successfully used your Infinite Sword Skill to slay an enemy! Reward One Omega Energy Point Your Offense Attribute has risen by 1 Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 876 The birds switched tactics, gaining altitude and moving into a holding pattern outside the range of of Jeffs [Infinite Sword] Skill. The flock hovered, almost motionless in mid air above them, coalescing into a dense cloud, their movements more drone like than avian. Then, moving in formation, they began en masse to drift slowly towards the cliff face. Jeff was struck by the synchronized, almost automated movements of the rocs. Each bird seemed to follow an unseen grid; their movements reminded him of the pixelated adversaries from a retro 80s video game. Jeff noticed one roc breaking formation, peeled off from the hovering group and flying along the escarpment, plucking up a loose boulder with its feet as it passed by. Watch out! he called to Fracta. I think its going to bomb us, And his prediction was proven accurate when, wheeling back around, the bird proceeded to dive directly at them, emitting a weird warbling cry as it plummeted down. At the nadir of its swoop it dropped its payload, casting the rock in Jeffs direction. Luckily, the missile narrowly missed Jeffs head, instead splashing harmlessly into the pond beside him, sending luminescent ripples across the glowing liquid. Fracta wasnt as fortunate. Despite her near-invisibility she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time; the next volley scored a direct hita large lump of granite striking her thorax with a disconcerting thud. The offending fowl returned to the main group, awaiting its turn to reload, cawing raucously in triumph. Jeff winced, feeling her pain. Are you alright? he called, concerned. Fracta took the hit stoically, without uttering a sound, but glancing at her system stats, he noted that her HP was dropping dangerously low. He himself was not faring much better. Already covered in cuts and scratches from the razor-sharp talons of the rocs, he received a serious concussion when another boulder from above landed on the side of his head. Had it not been for the looted helmet he was wearing, he would probably have been knocked unconscious. A Grade J Dark Cave Roc has critically injured you. You are bleeding internally. Ongoing damage received. Warning! Your HP is extremely low at 10%. Death is imminent. Dizzy and disorientated from the blow to his head, he quickly pulled his last two Potions of Healing from his ring, passing one to Fracta before downing the other. Last ones left, he said grimly. Their HP bars surged but their wounds remained only partially healed. You have partially restored yourself with a Potion of Healing. HP: 45 Out of potions, Jeff resorted to sharing his [Bag of Fairy Life-Cap Mushrooms] with Fracta, which boosted HP by two points with each nauseating mouthful. Thanks a lot for these Jeff, but they do taste disgusting! Her antennae drooped as she ate, her chromatophores flashing a bilious green. Jeff agreed, barely keeping the fungus down long enough for the buff to register. The ferocity of the aerial bombardment increased still further, the dive bombing rocs now descending in pairs; both dropping their stony payload at the same time. Sudden movement at the cliff face made Jeffs eyes widen. A fresh torrent of birds cascaded out of the caves, blighting the skies with their passage. These fresh additions to the flock moved into formation and further replenished the ranks in the sky. The rocs flapped overhead, taunting the exhausted pair with their strangely intelligent caws. Jefflookout! and Fractaover here! they called down, parroting the pairs voices. Fracta took another hit to her upper body, while Jeff was knocked over by a glancing blow from a falling stone. A Grade J Dark Cave Roc has injured you Helping him up with her pedipalp, she said urgently, Weve got no choice, weve gotta make a run for the far side. If we stay here well be flattened. Jeff was about to agree, despite a persistent feeling he had that the rocs were toying with them. Would the flock go all out if they tried to beat it for the other side of the plateau? he wondered. His question was soon answered. Another Contestant rounded the flank of the mountain and, sizing up the situation, decided to make a run for the far side. Rushing across the plateau, the bipedal creature, a white-furred rabbit-analog, hopped furiously, her powerful hind legs propelling her past the caves, huge elongated ears dangling behind her as she powered across the the plateau. She almost made it, too, before the flock shifted and coalesced overhead, a torrent of birds shooting down from the main cloud and enveloping the struggling rabbitoid, physically lifting her off her huge feet and propelling her into the air, shrieking. Jeff and Fracta, who had been cheering the plucky rabbit on the whole time, fell silent as the entire flock converged on her, their sharp beaks and talons rending her limb from limb. Feeling physically sick at the sight, Jeff racked his brains for a solution. Then, cursing himself for a fool, he suddenly remembered the shuriken he had looted off the Tawg. Pulling the wickedly sharp, eight pointed ninja star from his ring storage, he funneled 10 MP into the weapon, which glowed briefly. Toggling the crosshair in his HUD and taking aim, he cast it skyward at the nearest of the two birds approaching on their bombing run, with spectacular results. Spinning through the air, glinting wickedly, the shuriken struck the lead bird squarely between the eyes. The roc silently plummeted downwards, dead before it hit the ground. The weapon, deeply embedded, glowed briefly, then somehow extracted itself from the birds skull and shot back towards Jeff. You have killed a Grade J Dark Cave Roc Reward: Two Omega Energy Points Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 874 Jeff braced himself for the shurikens return, wondering how he would safely retrieve the insanely sharp blade. However his fears were allayed when the star decelerated as it approached, then hovered in front of him, glowing faintly. Simultaneously, Fracta, making it look effortless, took out the other approaching bird with her spear. Wasting no time, Jeff plucked the slowly spinning star out of the air in front of him. After spending the 10 MP required to recharge it, he hurled it at the cluster of birds in the air, while simultaneously activating his [Cutting Edge] skill. This time, the shuriken, plowing through the center of the flock, sliced through the wing of one bird, rendering it unable to fly and knocking it out of the sky, squawking. You have crippled a Dark Cave Roc Without missing a beat, it carried on with its trajectory, slicing through two more of the mobs which were busy reloading with rocks by the scarp. You have killed two Grade J Dark Cave Rocs Reward: Four Omega Energy Points Your Cognition Attribute has risen by 1 Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 875 The introduction of the shuriken to the fight was a game-changer. Rinsing and repeating, Jeff and Fracta took full advantage of the plentiful source of MP gushing around their feet to methodically annihilate the remaining flock of Cave Rocs, Gaining a ton of Omega Energy as well as banking some serious coin in the process. Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 1000 Evolve Your Grade Y/N? Chapter Twenty One鈥擡ggs and Soldiers Taking a moment to recover and catch their breath, they surveyed the battlefield. A few birds, injured but still alive, were scattered across the plateau, cawing pitifully. They set about the grisly task of finishing them off; each swing of sword and thrust of spear sending more coins flooded into their balances. Fracta, meanwhile, eyed the cave mouths lining the rocky cliff. There may be some good loot up there, she said excitedly, gesturing with one of her palps. I can climb up there and have a look With a scant five hours remaining on the timer, Jeff hesitated, reluctant to waste any more time, but Fracta had already taken off. Applying her natural climbing abilities, she nimbly scuttled up the side of the cliff and disappeared into the nearest cave entrance. Moments later she reappeared, several items clutched in her pedipalps. Jeff, theres tons of stuff in here! Ill throw it down to you. Jeff made himself useful and stood, arms outstretched at the base of the cliff while Fracta started dropping down an assortment of equipment and weaponry from the caves mouth. After she had finished scouring the first cave, Fracta moved on to the next one in line along the escarpment, and the pair methodically cleaned out the Cave Roc colonys possessions. Jeff kept an eye on the timer, yet in spite of his impatience he felt an endorphin rush each time Fracta dropped down some new treasure item. Half an hour later, Fracta had managed to scout out and clear all of the Roc caves lining the cliffs, building up a sizable pile of materials, weaponry and other assorted artifacts. Before they distributed the loot between them, Fracta and Jeff, weak with hunger, decided to feast on some roc eggs Fracta had discovered in nests, cunningly hidden at the back of a cave. The huge green and pink orbs, reminiscent of gaudily wrapped Easter eggs, were decorated with strange fractal like patterns, and each weighed over 10 pounds. Cracking open one of the eggs, they quickly ate it uncooked, before deciding to spend a bit more time preparing a proper meal. Experimenting, Jeff delicately submerged eight of the eggs into a small pool of mana. Using the point of his sword, he etched the rune for fire from memory onto the side of a flat rock and plunged it into the pool with the eggs. Concentrating, he focused on the mana, and placing his hand into the pool, activated the rune. The result was spectacular, as the mana instantly turned from a cold, blue liquid into what Jeff assumed was fire-aspected mana. The pool was transformed into a turbulent cauldron of fiery red energy, churning and roiling aggressively, its heat so intense the air shimmered above it. Congratulations! Your Mana Essence Skill has now reached Level 4 Fracta gasped, astounded by the effect. Youre going to have to explain to me how you did that, she said, a note of envy in her tone. She moved in closer to take advantage of the much-welcomed warmth emanating from the poolthe temperature on the mountain had dropped still further as the star-flower overhead flickered, entering its final stages of life. Jeff was shocked too, and pleased that his first experiment with runic engraving had worked so well. Yet he couldnt help wonder if there wasnt some risk attached to the process. He decided to keep a close eye on the burning fire-aspected mana. They rested by the side of the boiling pool for a while, allowing the welcome heat emanating from the burning liquid mana to thaw out their chilled bodies. Once they judged they had been cooked enough, Jeff and Fracta used their weapons to fish the hot eggs out of the boiling mana and left them to cool, while they inspected their loot. Congratulations! You have learnt the Skill Cooking (Level 1) The glinting pile contained several finely crafted swords, some bearing runes and intricate designs, as well as some other weapons of a lower quality level. Jeff chose what he determined to be the best one for himself, a massive Zweihander with an intricate, clear gem encrusted hilt and a silvery metallic blade, engraved on both sides of its length with intricate runes. Nearly six foot long, the massive sword gave off a palpable air of menace. The weapon, at least ten pounds in weight, would have been too heavy and unwieldy for Jeff before his Class selection, but now with his new found physical prowess, he was able to swing it over his head one-handed with ease. ITEM: [Enhanced Long Sword, Janissary Infantryman of the Crepuscular Marshes Standard-Issue], Reg, No. 17373. Affectionately nicknamed Leech by its previous owner due to the blades unique life steal abilityto siphon energy from adversaries, restoring the wielders health during battle. ITEM TYPE: Weapon ITEM CLASS: Rare, Grade H, +4 Offense (Stackable) REQUIREMENTS: At least one grasping organ EXPANDABLE: (Expandable) DESCRIPTION: The Janissaries of Talnus IX, an elite cadre of warriors, were allocated the unenviable task of patrolling the forbidding Crepuscular Marshes, ensuring that its accursed lethal flora and predatory fauna did not escape into the adjacent populated zones. Their swords were designed to suck out the very life essence of any creature they struck, symbiotically channeling the energy back into their wielders.So profound was their bond with these sacred blades that the Janissaries were said to commune telepathically with them, becoming inseparably connected. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Thus, when their species was harvested by the Vogels, the Janissariesdivested of their swordsall perished, withering away when the symbiotic links were cut. The Crepuscular Marshes of Talnus IV, no longer patrolled by the fabled Janissaries of yore, have since spread beyond their former boundaries, rendering the planet completely uninhabitable. The runes so skillfully engraved along Leechs length shimmered as Jeff gazed at them. He felt [Mana Essence] activate, allowing him to decipher more of the meaning contained within the symbols. One side of the blade appeared to deal with a complex instruction or command associated with the process of extraction, intertwined with the concept of hunger. Flipping the sword over revealed smaller runes etched into the opposite side, dealing with the concept of injection. Jeff reread Leechs description, frowning slightly. He resolved not to become too attached to the exotic blade in his hand. Fracta, meanwhile, had been examining a plain wooden chest containing a bundle of light blue fabric banners fixed to sharpened poles, each around a foot in height. One side of each banner was decorated with a stunningly detailed collection of runes, warping the very air around them with their potency. The other side of the banners was stitched with an image of an exotic bird of paradise, something like a peacock, with tail feathers spread wide in a sumptuous fan. The bird was hand-embroidered exquisitely, shown looking back over its shoulder, eyes aflame with a myriad of colors. Underneath the flags at the bottom of the box was a small clay tablet, upon which was etched a single control rune. ITEM: [Ebarbil Phoenix Boundary Formation] ITEM TYPE: Psi-Weapon ITEM CLASS: Rare, Grade H, +8 Offense (Stackable) REQUIREMENTS: None EXPANDABLE: (Not Expandable) DESCRIPTION: The Ebarbil Phoenix is a mystical creature synonymous with confusion and insanity. These seven banners, when placed in conjunction with one another, create a zone of bafflement, which can disorient and derange enemy combatants. The area of effect can extend up to fifty yards on a side. By holding the ward key (provided), the owner can enter and exit the zone with impunity. I think thisll work a lot better with your Scout class and skills, Jeff said, after some deliberation. You keep it. Fracta agreed, adding the chest to her ring inventory. The pair continued sifting through the pile of loot next to the steaming pool of mana, dividing the remaining weapons and artifacts between themselves. Hurrying now, they spared only cursory glances at the System generated descriptions, acutely aware of the timer inexorably ticking down. Within one of the caves, Fracta had discovered an empty oaken barrel, robustly bound with iron straps. Jeff decided to make use of the barrel to preserve some of the mana for future use. Carefully lowering it into one of the luminescent pools, he filled the barrel up with the blue liquid mana before storing it in his ring. Ten strange metal ingots recovered from the caves aroused Jeffs curiosity. With glowing, golden veins of energy running through them, the jet black bars were extremely heavy, so much so that Jeff and Fracta had difficulty lifting them, even with their boosted strength. Stashing them in their ring inventories, they resolved to get them valued in the Tournament Store later on. Before setting off on the final leg of the ascent to the summit, Jeff and Fracta quickly set about eating two of the now cooled roc eggs. They placed the other remaining cooked roc eggs in their rings for consumption later on. Peeling the shell off the top of the soft boiled egg in front of him, Jeff was pleased to discover it had a pleasant taste and aroma, despite the yolk being a disconcerting purple hue. Some salt wouldnt have gone amiss either. The meal was a rather messy business. Globs of thick purple yolk dribbled down Jeffs chin and spattered the rocky ground at his feet without any cutlery he was forced to use his hands to scoop up the yolk and albumen. A slice of toast to dunk into the huge egg would have been ideal. He resolved to purchase some essential camping items from the Tournament store at the earliest opportunity. Fracta, on the other hand, was able to consume the egg, or at least the yolk, in a more dignified manner; extruding a long proboscis from the front of her cephalothorax, she daintily sucked up the gooey purple liquid without spilling a drop. This is delicious! she exclaimed, slurping up more of the purple yolk. Jeff complemented her on the dainty method she employed to consume the egg, whilst lamenting his own lack of proper utensils. Fracta responded somewhat cryptically, with what Jeff assumed to be a Tesek proverb. Every brave Lekshenj has its own way of eating congealed Marwank nectar Their mood was improved still further when they both received a system notification: You have eaten a mana-imbued food item. Your Vitality Attribute has risen by 2 As they were finishing up their strange meal, they were abruptly disturbed by a ghastly, bone-chilling screech, coming from the cliff face behind them. One final cave roc, somehow having escaped their cull, flew down towards them, cawing in outrage, its shrieks infused with raw maternal fury. no..noNOOOOOO!!! My chicks, my chicks Youre eating my beautiful babies! The articulate bird diving towards them like a cruise missile was larger and more impressive than the other cave rocs. Its plumage was edged with regal looking golden feathers, its head crowned with some sort of crude ceremonial headdress made of twigs, perhaps signifying it was the leader of the slaughtered avian community. A yellow nimbus surrounded the bird as it activated a Skill. Jeff simultaneously received a system notification. [Youve Been Cursed] Cave Roc Matriarch Spell of Shrinkage - Your size will now be reduced by a factor of six.Time remaining: thirty minutes. Fracta acted quickly. Oh, buzz off, you !^%}{#?a?o she shouted, her placid nature finally reaching breaking point, her segmented arm bending back to send Aetherstrike skyward. The spear was thrown with such strength and accuracy, it skewered the squawking Queen cave roc right through the breast, killing her instantly. The system awarded Fracta a Boss Loot Box, which she quickly added to her ring inventory. Unfortunately for Jeff, Fracta taking out the Matriarch did not negate the effect of the curse. He felt himself rapidly shrinking, his surroundings blurring and stretching upwards. Smaller and smaller he became, until he was reduced to a mere thirteen inches in height, roughly the size of a Ken doll. Fracta stared down at him, suddenly transformed into a giant as she loomed over his tiny form. To make matters even worse, while they had been busy gorging on the Boss Bitchs eggs, they had failed to notice that as a result of setting the mana pool alight, Jeff had inadvertently triggered a chain reaction. The fire-aspected mana had begun to spread unchecked across the plateau. All of the once calm, blue mana pools surrounding them had now ignited; the red glowing flames were spreading like wildfire, jumping up the cascades and igniting the liquid mana pouring over the cliffs. The previously icy cold plateau was quickly becoming transformed, the air now unpleasantly warm and humid despite the heat-death of the star-flower. Boulders and huge partially melted icicles began to fall around them, dislodged from the destabilized cliff face, and clouds of mana-steam rose up in a dense fog, reducing visibility. Fracta, peering down at him with her compound eyes, shouted urgently over the rising din, Weve got to make it to the far side before the whole plateau collapses. It will be quicker if I pick you up and carry you. Is that OK? Jeff reluctantly signaled his consent, seeing no other way to get to the top of the mountain in time. At his current reduced height it would take him days to reach the summit. Fracta reached down with one of her pedipalps, scooping him up and plopping him feet first into her marsupial pouch, next to her glowing Hive Seed. Only Jeffs head stuck out through the flap at the top of the pouch, giving him a great view of the apocalyptic spectacle unravelling around them as they rushed across the plateau. Despite feeling slightly humiliated by the situation, Jeff was also grateful for the respite; the warm confines of Fractas pouch gripped him tightly, womblike. Chapter Twenty-Two鈥擲ummit Wrong Fracta moved like greased lightning, faster than he had ever seen her run before, her eight articulated legs a blur as she rushed across the plateau, navigating burning pools of mana, dislodged boulders, and plunging ice shards. Watch out! Jeff squeaked from the lip of her pouch, seeing an ice stalactite calving off the side of the cliff face. Fracta instantly activated [Paper Weight], jinking in mid air to avoid the huge icicle as it tumbled down towards them from the destabilizing precipice. Jeff, reviewing her stats, noted that her Total Attribute Points had risen to nearly one hundred and fifty, boosted by the climb up the mountain and the punishing battle against the Cave Rocs. As they were making their way across the last stretch of the plateau, an ominous rumbling began to emanate from the mountainside. By the time Fracta had reached the foot of the stairs, the tremors had increased in magnitude, and the entire flank of the mountain began to shift, giving way behind them. Oops, Jeff thought, somewhat guiltily. I caused this. At the base of the final flight of stone stairs, Fracta had to sidestep the desiccated remains of another fellow World Champion; a humanoid corpse, male by the looks of it, his clothes and armor in tatters and his eye sockets empty, a grim reminder of the viciousness of the cave rocs and the brutal nature of the Tournament. Fracta, with Jeff still snugly ensconced in her carrying pouch, proceeded up the final set of stairs to the summit. As Fracta carried him, Jeff decided that as he still had another fifteen minutes before the curse was lifted and he could make his own way, he would review his attributes progression and the latest additions to his inventory. He had accrued a large number of Coins as a reward for winning the battle with the cave rocs, as well as several loot items salvaged from the caves. Languishing at the bottom of his HUD was a whole list of insistently glowing System notifications which he had not had time to view earlier during the battle. Settling back in Fractas pouch he now went through them methodically one by one. The most important update by far was that he had reached one thousand Levels, the height of the J Grade. ** Initiate Grade Evolution ** [Yes/No?] Jeff opted to hold off on leveling his Grade and Class for now, at least until the Cave Roc Matriarchs curse was lifted, worried that his currently diminished stature would in some way negatively impact on the process. Fracta, Jeff called out, his voice rendered tinny due to his size, barely audible over the noise of the tremors coming from the mountain. Im now ready to level up to Grade I. How are your stats doing? Fracta, distracted slightly by the vibrations beneath her feet and the need to focus on scaling the remaining part of the mountain, responded. "I''m at Level 895, almost there myself. Jeff, glad that they were both able to evolve their Grades at nearly the same time, decided to continue looking at his Character Sheet in more detail.
NAME: Jeff Nostro RACE: Human HIT POINTS (HP): 80/80 +10 MANA POINTS (MP): 70/70 Path: Spellsword [Hidden]Path Rewrite: 2/7 Tribulations passed CLASS: Arcane Duelist 1 Grade: J (Potential to Evolve) Level: 1000 (Max) SKILLS: Identify (Level 1)Physical Fitness (Level 2) Jump (Level 1) High Pain Threshold (Level 3) Combat Proficiency (Level 3) Sub-Skill: [Unarmed Blade] Level 1 First Aid (Level 1) Dodge (Level 2) Poison Resistance (Level 1) Mana Essence (Level 4) Cooking (Level 1) CLASS SKILLS: Infinite Sword (Level 1)Cutting Edge (Level 2) Strength: 26 Speed: 15+2 Vitality: 19+2 Endurance: 21+2 Cognition: 23 Offense: 29 Defense: 19+5 Total Attribute Points (TAP): 152
Jeff spent a moment going over the items stored in his inventory.
ITEM: [Short Sword] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Janissary Long Sword], Infantryman of the Crepuscular Marshes Standard-Issue, Rare, Level 2, (Expandable), +4 Offense (Stackable) ITEM: [Goblin Bone Dagger] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [VogelCorp Aether Powered Chainsaw] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable) +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Netherworm Corruption Poison, small bladder] ITEM: [Periapt of The Erstwhile Tree Gods] Uncommon, Level 2 (Not Expandable) +2 Vitality, +2 Endurance, +10 HP (Stackable) - Equipped ITEM: [Ningish Orb of Mana Replenishment] Rare, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +50% Mana Boost (temporary), x 12 ITEM: [Chain Mail] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Defense, (Not Stackable) - Equipped ITEM: [Helm of Enchantment] Common, Level 1 (Expandable), +5 Defense (Not Stackable) - Equipped ITEM: [Orcish Battle Boots] - +2 Speed (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Oaken Iron Bound Barrel], Contents: Pure Mana 500/500 ITEM: [Shuriken - Shadars Tooth] + 5 Offense (Not Stackable), Level 1 (Expandable). 10 MP per use. ITEM: [Five ingots of an unidentified metal] ITEM: [Rapier] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Long Sword] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Cutlass] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +1 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Dagger] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Battle Axe] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Cave Roc Egg], cooked, x 6 ITEM: [Cave Roc Egg], uncooked, x 6 ITEM: [Cloak of Distraction] Uncommon, Level 2 (Not Expandable) +2 Defense, +5 Stealth (Stackable) ITEM: [Attribute Stone] Single Use ITEM: [RemoteTalk Bangle] - set of 2 COINS: 989
Glancing through his stats, Jeff noticed that his Speed was lagging behind the other Attributes. He guessed this was because both his Cutting Edge and Infinite Sword skills were offense oriented. I have a desire for velocity Jeff murmured to himself as he continued reading through his character sheet. As if reading his thoughts, Fracta called out over the sound of the mountain collapsing around them. Yes, don''t underestimate speed, Jeff. You need it! A slow target is a dead target. Jeff chuckled and returned to examining the new items stored in his inventory. ITEM: [Cloak of Distraction] Uncommon, Level 2 (Not Expandable) +2 Defense (Stackable).Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Description: This wearable magical item is crafted from a fragment of a burial shroud once worn by a Grade D Demigod-Spy during their ascension. The Cloak of Distraction grants the wearer a +2 Defense buff. If the wearer possesses the Stealth attribute, the cloak will grant a further +5 buff (Stackable). Furthermore, the wearer gains up to 50% protection from psi-attacks, and will be alerted to magic based attacks. Useful, but as I dont have the Stealth attribute, not so great, Jeff thought to himself, before moving on to the next looted item in his ring. ITEM: [Attribute Stone] Rare, Single Use. Description: Add an additional Attribute to your set. Choose from a list of available attributes once the stone is activated. Single use. As Jeff finished reading the last item description, Fracta ascended the final steps of the stone staircase, which opened out onto the summit of the mountain. Before them stretched another level plateau, dominated by two massive metallic pillars, capped by a horizontal lintel of the same sleek material. The structure, while clearly a product of some advanced science, evoked the solemn grandeur of an ancient, megalithic monument from the Stone Age. The three slabs of technology were intricately etched with glowing blue runes, their soft luminescence casting a gentle radiance across the summit. As they approached the structure, they could see a shimmering barrier rippling between the two vertical pillars, distorting the air. Hovering above the transportation portal was the System-generated icon for Tantalus, marking the path forward. Fracta reached down and gently pulled Jeff out of her pouch, depositing him on the ice covered ground. A moment later the debuff timer for the cave roc matriarchs curse elapsed and Jeff began to grow, slowly at first and then within a minute he was restored back to his original size. Overhead, the star-flower flickered, a burnt-out ember, hanging in a pitch black sky. The temperature had plummeted and Jeff was sure that without his system-boosted attributes he would have frozen solid. Shivering, Jeff thanked Fracta for the ride, acutely aware that he owed her one. Would you mind keeping watch while I evolve my Grade? Fracta signaled her assent and Jeff, wasting no time, turned his attention to the glowing system dialog. ** Initiate Grade Evolution ** [Yes/No?] The instant Jeff initiated the Grade evolution process, lances of searing pain shot through his limbs and skull, and he staggered on the spot, barely managing to keep to his feet. But a moment longer and the pain passed, to be replaced by the same blissful sensations he had experienced the previous time, when he initially selected his class. A feeling of well-being, bordering on euphoria poured through his body, instantly wiping away the pain. The physical effects of the cold environment around him were negated and he felt warmth flooding through his fingers and toes, sensation returning. Again, he felt that he had increased in size physically. Looking down the length of his body, he estimated he had grown at least a couple of inches in height. The process of evolving his class was intoxicating, and Jeff felt a strange desire to grow and progress, to gain more Experience Points and improve his attributes, just so he could do it again. Im getting addicted to thisJeff thought to himself. Level Up. Evolution Successful. Class: Arcane Duelist 1, Grade I
NAME: Jeff Nostro RACE: Human HIT POINTS (HP): 80/180 (+10*) MANA POINTS (MP): 70/170 Path: Spellsword [Hidden]
  • Path Rewrite: Awarded if 7 tribulations are completed.
  • Tribulations passed: 2/7
GRADE: I, Level 1 CLASS: Arcane Duelist 1 (Class Upgrade Available) SKILLS:
  • Physical Fitness (Level 2)
  • Identify (Level 1)
  • High Pain Threshold (Level 4)
  • Combat Proficiency (Level 3)
    • Sub-Skill: [Unarmed Blade] Level 1
  • First Aid (Level 1)
  • Dodge (Level 2)
  • Jump (Level 1)
  • Poison Resistance (Level 1)
  • Mana Essence (Level 4)
  • Cooking (Level 1)
CLASS SKILLS:
  • Infinite Sword (Level 1)
  • Cutting Edge (Level 2)
ATTRIBUTES:
  • Strength: 30
  • Speed: 19 (+2*)
  • Vitality: 23 (+2*)
  • Endurance: 20 (+2*)
  • Cognition: 18
  • Offense: 40
  • Defense: 20 (+5*)
  • Total Attribute Points: 170
  • Unallocated Attribute Points: 40
Glancing through his stats again, Jeff noted that the potential boundaries of both his MP and his HP had grown exponentially, the size of his MP reservoir more than doubling to 170. Out of curiosity, Jeff dived into his inner world to access his Core Space to see what had changed. The moment he entered, he was struck by its dramatic transformation. The once modest grotto containing his little mana pool had transformed into a sprawling cavern, dominated at its center by a much larger body of manaalmost a lake now, the raw mana perpetually spinning, and churning in a clockwise gyre. The glowing blue vortex screamed of untapped potential. His inner world has significantly expanded as a result of his Grade evolution. Clicking out of his Core Space, he retrieved the Attribute Stone from his ring storage. The stone sat in his palm, a neon yellow, pulsing cube of smooth rock, like a large dice. The cube was marked on five of its six sides with different runes. Jeff activated it with a mental push. As he looked at the glowing artefact, a dialog appeared before him.
Attribute Stone Available Attributes: Stealth Charisma Luck Will Faith
Jeff weighed up the options. Luck and Faith were foreign concepts to him. He had no wish to kowtow to some alien deity, and he made his own luck. Charisma seemed a useless attribute in a war zone, and he felt he possessed enough Will already. That left Stealth, which seemed like the best choice for him at the moment, both because with it, he would be able to utilize the Cloak of Distraction in his possession and also because he felt he had been relying too heavily on his Offense attribute. Wasting no time, he quickly selected the Stealth attribute from the list. The stone glowed briefly in the palm of his hand, then vanished. A new system notification popped up:
You have successfully integrated Stealth into your Attribute list.
Next, Jeff shifted his attention to applying the 40 unassigned Attribute Points he had earned when he leveled up. He dedicated 10 points each to Stealth, Speed and Vitality, and the remaining 10 he strategically divided between Defense and Cognition. Lastly he withdrew the Cloak of Distraction from his inventory. The gossamer-like shimmering black robe seemed to cling to his shoulders without any visible means of support, and was so light that Jeff did not even notice it was there when he equipped it. He took another look at his Attributes.
NAME: Jeff Nostro RACE: Human HIT POINTS (HP): 80/180 (+10*) MANA POINTS (MP): 70/170 Path: Spellsword [Hidden]
  • Path Rewrite: Awarded if 7 tribulations are completed.
  • Tribulations passed: 2/7
GRADE: I, Level 1 CLASS: Arcane Duelist 1 SKILLS:
  • Physical Fitness (Level 2)
  • Identify (Level 1)
  • High Pain Threshold (Level 4)
  • Combat Proficiency (Level 3)
    • Sub-Skill: [Unarmed Blade] Level 1
  • First Aid (Level 1)
  • Dodge (Level 2)
  • Jump (Level 1)
  • Poison Resistance (Level 1)
  • Mana Essence (Level 4)
  • Cooking (Level 1)
CLASS SKILLS:
  • Infinite Sword (Level 1)
  • Cutting Edge (Level 2)
ATTRIBUTES:
  • Strength: 30
  • Speed: 29 (+2*)
  • Vitality: 33 (+2*)
  • Endurance: 20 (+2*)
  • Cognition: 23
  • Offense: 40
  • Defense: 25 (+7*)
  • Stealth: 10 (+5*)
  • Total Attribute Points: 210
  • Unallocated Attribute Points: 0
He noticed with interest that his MP and HP were both regenerating at a much faster rate than previously, obviously one of the benefits of evolving to Grade I. Finally he addressed the glowing system dialog that had been insistently pulsing at the corner of his vision since he had evolved his Grade. Again, the system offered three new Classes for Jeff to choose from, but Jeff felt a mounting sense of disappointment as he took in the descriptions. The first choice in particular seemed like no choice at all. Arcane Duelist 2: Arcane Duelists are a rare Class that are at ease in both the martial and magical worlds. The battlefield becomes a canvas upon which they work their arttheir blades and spells are their brushes, their enemys blood the paint. Be The Blade! The remaining two choices on offer were identical to those from his first Class evolution: Battlefield Bulwark 1 and Dark Scout 1. The only difference being the addition of a free Class Skill with each one. Battlefield Bulwark offered something called [Group Heal], which according to the description, would allow Battlefield Bulwarks to heal members of their party, over any distance. Were he to select the Dark Scout Class, he would gain the additional Skill, [Shadow Jump]. This Skill did interest Jeff, slightly. The ability to teleport instantaneously into any shadow within sight promised a lot of potential for mayhem. The description also hinted that when the Skill leveled, the possible jump distance would increase exponentially. Jeff mulled over his choices for a moment, irritated more than anything at the Systems tactics. The new Skills offered with the divergent Classes were tempting, each offering a significant boost to his strategic capabilities, but Jeff concluded that the System was attempting to divert him from the trajectory he was on, for some reason. Despite the allure of the additional Class Skills, Jeff decided to continue with the Arcane Duelist Class for now. Once again, the usual wave of disorientation swept over him and he felt a subtle shift in the potency of his psyche and physique, though much less so than the previous time he had selected his Class. Class Selection Successful. Arcane Duelist 2 Reaching into his ring once again he pulled out the pair of RemoteTalk Bangles and offered one to Fracta. Just in case we get separated, we should still be able to communicate. Fracta accepted the device, slipping the brassy metal bangle over one of her pedipalps, where it automatically adjusted its size, snugly fitting around the limb. Jeff followed suit, slipping the other bangle over his left hand. Upon contact the band seemed to meld with the skin, fusing into the contours of his wrist and becoming a part of his arm. Jeff donned the Cloak of Distraction. He immediately felt his physical footprint fading, his appearance becoming muted by its illusory effect. He sheathed the Janissary Long Sword in the scabbard it came with at his belt. With the timer rapidly running downonly fifteen minutes remained before the deadline to enter Tantalusand increasingly ominous rumbles emanating from the mountain beneath them, Jeff and Fracta decided not to delay any longer and moved across the icy plateau towards the glowing portal. Just as they were about to step through, a furious shout rang out behind them. You! You there! What in the Nine Hells have you done to my mountain? Whirling around, Jeff recognized Mahalath, the same Ejdar who had been manning the ticket booth at the mountains base. His red skin practically glowing with indignation, he charged towards them, arms flailing wildly in the air. Err, apologies Jeff mumbled, picking his words with care. I had no idea that was going to happensomething to do with the mana I guess. Something to do with the mana! the Ejdar parroted mockingly. You expect me to believe Some low-Grade noob straight off a Systemless, backwater planet could manipulate mana like that. Who set you up to it? By this point Mahalath had caught up with them and stood inches from Jeff, his fists clenched, his entire body quivering with barely contained fury. Not giving Jeff a chance to answer, the Ejdar continued his tirade. Do you have any inkling of the bureaucratic nightmare youve inflicted on me? Im going to be up to my eyeballs in paperwork for the next month dealing with this messIm informing Satrap Osmius about you two. Just you wait, you havent heard the last of this! Jeff and Fracta continued backing away. Jeff mumbled an insincere apology, and leaving the fuming, red skinned Ejdar alone on the crumbling, increasingly unstable mountain top, stepped through the shimmering portal. Chapter Twenty-Three鈥擳antalus Hey! Move away from the portal immediately! Jeff and Fracta stood side by side on a raised platform at the summit of a flat topped ziggurat. Behind them reared a rune-inscribed metallic portal, identical in appearance to the one they had just departed through at the top of the mountain. Ahead of them, down a short flight of steps lay a semicircular open space. The area was opulently tiled in a similar fashion to the training chamber. Flanking the open space on the left and right were rows of buildings rising to three stories. As Jeff studied them intently he noticed that the structures bore the scars of some ancient cataclysmthey appeared partially melted, as if they had been struck by some sort of powerful energy weaponnuked in some long forgotten war. A gap in the grey buildings directly in front of them presented a grand, tree-lined avenue, leading off into the distance. Oi! Are you deaf? Get off the portal before we kick you off. The sun above them was a blazing orb in a cloudy brown-tinged sky, and the heat was merciless. Recalling Mistys description of Tantaluss temperate climate, Jeff frowned. The temperature must have been at least 100 degrees, which, coupled with the extreme humidity, rendered the atmosphere extremely unpleasant. The AIs glowing description didnt line up with the reality of this place. Despite the heat, he resisted the urge to de-equip his chainmail for now. At the foot of the stairs leading down from their raised platform, a motley troop of what appeared to be uniformed soldiers were gathered, some standing and others squatting in the meager shade offered by a couple of ornamental columns. Four of the group of six, including the leader, were humanoid. The other two were respectively a cowled and cloaked avian from whose back sprouted large brown feathered wings, and a four-legged reptilian creature, bedecked in heavy armor plating. Jeff peered again at the group and now saw the familiar yellow glow of system identification boxes hanging over their heads, indicating that they were Tournament Contestants, the same as himself. He analyzed the character addressing them. NAME: Bonifak RACE: Lidell, Stygian Elf, Grade: I HIT POINTS (HP): 180/180 +50 MANA POINTS (MP): 50/50 REWARD: 830 Coins Total Attribute Points (TAP): 189 Bonifak, identified as a Stygian Elf by the system, was the strongest member of the party at what Jeff assumed was early Grade I, with a total number of Attribute Points that vastly outshone his companions. The rest of the group were all Grade J Contestants with much lower HP and MP, and attribute points totaling on average less than 100. A distinguishing feature of the entire group, Jeff now noticed, was that all six of them had a complex rune mark on their foreheads. Jeff peered at the brand, trying to match it to other runes in his memory, but was unable to determine its function at first glance. Jeff, making no move to clear the platform, peered down at the increasingly irate elf below him and, ignoring his truculent tone, enquired politely, Hi Bonifak, good day to you. Is this the Tantalus? Bonifak was a tall, imposing, dark robed figure. His complexion was pallid, and he seemed to be suffering from the heat of Tantalusdroplets of sweat beaded the ashen skin of his brow and his slate grey eyes squinted in the glare cast by the fierce sun overhead. His elven ears poked through his sand colored hair, which was slicked to his scalp with sweat. The rune emblazoned on his forehead appeared to have been seared into his flesh in some way. Bonifak replied through gritted teeth, obviously having trouble keeping a lid on his temper. Yes! You are in bloody Tantalus Now clear off the portal before someone else comes through. You dont want to be occupying the same space when that happens. Jeff, seeing the sense in that, decided to not dawdle on the ziggurat any longer. Turning to Fracta, he said, Lets find a hotel or inn and rest up. We can work out our next move. Fracta signaled her assent, and they both slowly proceeded down the stairs and towards the waiting troop of soldiers. As they cautiously approached the assembled group of warriors, Jeff picked up on a noticeably tense atmospheremaybe it was Jeffs new [Mana Essence] Skill which gave him the ability to read peoples emotional auras, or maybe it was just because something ugly shone in their eyesa toxic mix of greed and a desire to inflict pain and suffering clearly written across their faces. A number of the party were also looking particularly aggressively at Fracta, gripping their weapons tightly and subtly moving into defensive positions. One grey faced orcan imposing figure heavily laden with plate armor and gripping a huge halberd, obviously the tank of the groupbroke the silence. His voice was laden with killing intent as he snarled, no bugs allowed in the inn. The winged, hooded character also seemed to take offense at Fractas presence, a muttered imprecation emanating from beneath its shadowy cowl. Not so fast. Bonifak moved swiftly to stand in their path, trying to prevent them from leaving the area. The law says newcomers must report to Sharkey in the Citadel, for official tax registration and branding, pushing his pale, sweaty face up close, he continued, staring fixedly into Jeffs eyes, no dawdling. As the elf spoke, a yellow nimbus flared briefly around his head, the telltale sign that a Skill of some sort had been activated. For a fleeting moment, Jeff found himself nodding along compliantly to Bonifaks request. need to report to Sharkey at the Citadel must get branded But as the impulse swept through him, Jeff felt his Cognition and Defense attributes flex. He realized immediately that he was being manipulated by a powerful mental Skill. At the same time, he felt the Cloak of Distraction tighten subtly around his shoulders, indicating it was performing its function and shielding him from a magical attack. A system notification appeared in Jeffs vision. You have successfully evaded a psi-attack! A hostile entity has failed to control your will! Your Stealth Attribute has risen by 1 Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 2 Reaching out, he placed a restraining hand on Fractas flank, pausing her forward movement. Straightening up to his full height, he glared at the Stygian Elf icily.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Youre starting to irritate me. Move aside. Well visit the Citadel when we are good and ready, and not before. Fracta, now also recovered from the mental compulsion, followed suit, pushing forward and rearing up on her hind legs, mandibles clashing audibly. Bonifak, unnerved by the pairs display of strength and the failure of his mental Skill, stumbled back. His comrades seemed equally nonplussed, muttering amongst themselves ineffectually and exchanging confused glances. Jeff and Fracta seized the opportunity presented, and strode past the group and across the flagstone expanse of the square. Unexpectedly, Misty chose that moment to make a reappearance. Well done Jeff, and welcome to Tantalus! I knew youd make it. Here in Tantalus, you will have a chance to interact with your fellow Tournament Contestants, rest in one of the many luxurious chambers available in the Crystal Citadel, and take advantage of the free food on offer at the fountain in the main square. When you are ready to proceed on to the next stage of the Tournament, you will find the portal just beyond the rear courtyard of the Citadel. Caught off-guard by Mistys sudden reappearance, Jeff took a moment to reply. Misty, can you tell me who this Sharkey is, and why we have to report to him in the Citadel? Jeff asked. I have no knowledge of an entity named Sharkey, or any requirement by Tournament Contestants to report to anyone in the Tantalus. Its possible you have been misinformed. Jeff digested this information silently, then spoke to Fracta. Have you heard from your AI yet? Yes, I just spoke with it. It appears the setup here doesnt quite tally with the information on their database. I think we should proceed with caution. Jeff agreed, and they made their way across the sun-baked square. An acidic brown rain had begun to fall, the dirty drops of sulphur-smelling liquid staining Jeffs clothes and stinging his skin slightly. The pair headed towards the low slung buildings ahead of them, where they now saw a huddle of Contestants sitting on the sidewalk around the entry to the tree-lined avenue. As they drew nearer, and Jeff began to discern more details, he felt a chill creep up his spine. Several members of the crowd were in a state of extreme malnourishmentgaunt emaciated features and hollowed out eyes gazed back at them, an assortment of different physiques, most humanoid, others alienall equally sickly and weak looking. Fracta slowed her pace. Leaning closer to Jeff she whispered in a low voice, This doesnt add up. We were promised free food and lodging by our AIs, but these people are on the edge of starvation. Jeff agreed with her, and they moved closer to the crowd to investigate. A high-pitched yet mellifluous voice called out plaintively from the crowd. Food, any food for us? I beg you, kind sir The plea came from a large rodent-like creature, her dark brown fur matted and dull. The fur covered female was dressed in tattered rags, and squatted on the dusty ground of the square, arms stretched out imploringly in the universal language of the beggar. The large pouches on either side of her face gave her a slightly comedic look. Jeff analyzed the chipmunk-featured woman with [Identify] and saw that she was indeed a fellow Tournament player. NAME: Emwarr Perivel RACE: Resep, Grade J HIT POINTS (HP): 40/80 MANA POINTS (MP): 20/50 REWARD: 230 Coins Total Attribute Points (TAP): 75 Emwarr and the other beggars around her were also scarred, their foreheads branded in the same way as Bonifak and his troop. The raw, crusted scabs covering the brand marks on some of the mendicants indicated they had been recently applied, while others appeared old, the welts healed but still visible. Squatting down eye-to-eye with the rodent woman, Jeff smiled gently and began speaking. Wed be happy to pay for some information with coins or food, he offered. Emwarr eagerly nodded. Sure, sure. tell me what you want to know and Ill do my best. Hearing this conversation, and Jeffs promise of food, some of the other starving beggars began to shuffle forwards, arms outstretched in anticipation. Fracta applied herself to crowd control, keeping the increasingly agitated crowd of beggars at bay, while Jeff gave his full attention back to Emwarr, pumping the rodent woman for more information. "Could you start by giving me a general overview of Tantalus? Its layout and geography. Jeff requested. Emwarr cleared her throat and began detailing the layout of Tantalus. Her words flowed in a hurried garble, keen to satisfy Jeffs curiosity and receive her food reward. Emwarr described the layout of Tantalus, only pausing when Jeff asked for more details. "Tantalus is an island, bordered to the East and West by treacherous swamps that lead to impassible mountain ranges," she said. She pointed to either side of her with her clawed fingers to better illustrate her point. "And as for the North and South, vast bodies of water stretch as far as the eye can see. Contestants have tried to traverse them but never returned." She paused for a breath before adding, "The Citadel is not actually on the same landmass as the rest of Tantalus. Its situated on its own island, linked to the mainland here by a narrow, fortified causeway. Jeff digested this information, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the strategic significance of the Citadel''s position. Sharkey rules Tantalus with an iron fist; he controls everythingall the food sources are closely guarded. New arrivals are forced to hand over their inventory storage rings, including all of their weapons. He grants his army and well behaved Contestants tokens for use at the gruel fountain in the central square, but keeps the banquet halls in the Citadel strictly for his inner circle. Emwarr continued mournfully, Players like you arrive, but they cannot escape through the exit portal to the next stage of the tournament without Sharkeys permission. Ive been here for twenty years, and I doubt now that Ill ever leave. The best I can hope for is to stay alive as long as I can, to give my people a bit more time before the Vogels return to subjugate them. "So, youre saying that this douchebag, Sharkey, has converted Tantalus into his personal kingdom, with him and his cronies at the top and everyone else scrambling for the crumbs," Jeff summarized, anger punctuating his words. "Without his permission, no one can progress in the Tournament? Emwarr nodded, her large brown eyes filled with despair and resignation. "Exactly. And the longer we stay, the weaker we become, and the harder it is to leave. There are talesrumors of past Contestants who somehow managed to break through the Citadels defenses and moved on to the next stage. But as each year passes, Sharkey tightens his grip She paused, murmuring a fatalistic proverb of some kind. As always, the strong do as they will, and the weak suffer what they must Jeff turned his attention to the brand mark on her forehead. And those marks on your heads? He asked, pointing to the rodent womans brow. One of Sharkeys methods to control us. The brands are Runes of Pain, linked to a Grade G runic device. From the safety of the Citadel, Sharkey can remotely trigger them and inflict pain, even kill, whenever he pleases. A palpable shudder coursed through Emwarrs hunched frame at the mention of the brands. It was obvious to Jeff that she herself had suffered in the past at the hands of Sharkey. Best to give the Citadel a wide berth. Sharkey iscruel. He regularly holds gladiatorial contests in his fighting pitfixed fights that are rarely an even match. If youre feeling brave, consider grinding in one of the two I Grade dungeons that border Tantalus. Extremely dangerous, with a high mortality rate, but some say they are a good source of coins, food and equipment. Or perhaps have a go at scavenging in the swamps. Try not to end up like the rest of us, Emwarr said sadly, gesturing at herself and the other beggars, before continuing. I have let my people down, I cant fight anymoreI cant take the painbut I wont make a deal with the Citadel, I wont play along with Sharkeys wicked games. Jeffs curiosity was piqued by Emwarrs mention of the dungeons. He was equally intrigued about another peculiarity he had noticed. How come nearly everyone is at the Grade they are? Whats keeping your progression sostunted? Jeff attempted to phrase it delicately, but still sounded blunt. As youve been here so long, I would have expected you to have evolved much further by now, at least beyond the J Grade. Emwarr sighed before responding. All of us made the same, fatal mistakeleaving the training phase early, and choosing the fastpass instead of enduring the ascent up the mountain. She replied. The training, the mountain climb and its challenges are designed to naturally raise attributes and give Contestants the opportunity to gain Omega Energy. Its too late now. Were all stuck, weakened in this wretched state, crippled by hunger and the effects of the Pain Runes, unable to level up. And the dungeons? Jeff prompted. Why not head into the dungeons and grind some more to evolve your Grade, like you suggested we could? Fear, Emwarr responded simply. Fear of the wild beasts lurking in the depths of the swamps, fear of falling afoul of the myriad traps in the dungeons, fear of dying at the hands of one of the mobs or Dungeon Bosses and failing my people. Im a coward! Emwarr sobbed, suddenly breaking down completely. Why was I chosen? Im useless! There, there Jeff said, clumsily trying to console the now openly weeping rodent woman at his feet. Fracta had successfully kept back the gaggle of beggars and now approached, delicately placing a sympathetic pedipalp on the shoulder of the sniveling Contestant. As Jeff looked around at the other beleaguered World Champions, he saw the same look of hopelessness on each of their emaciated faces. Accessing his inventory, Jeff pulled out one of the large Roc eggs and pushed it into her hands. Here, take this, for your trouble. Emwarr gaped down at the magical delicacy cradled in her palms, her despair momentarily forgotten. Her eyes widened still further as she read the System-generated description of the mana imbued food item. Jeff turned his gaze from Emwarr to the huddled crowd of desperate starving players before him. His initial reaction was tinged with pity, though a faint note of irritation slipped into his voice. They seem ratherpathetic, he muttered, attempting diplomacy but unable to fully mask his critical attitude, a note of condescension in his voice. Fracta, perceptive as always, caught his meaning and responded gently, almost chiding. Theyre extremely scared, Jeff. Theyve lost hope, she whispered. Lets hope we dont end up in the same situation. Her words struck a chord, and Jeff nodded, silently acknowledging that her empathy was the correct response to the situation. A twinge of shame rose up within him at his initial, scornful thoughts. Without another word, he reached back into his ring and produced another huge roc egg. Sacrificing an egg for a whole heap of goodwill seemed like a small price to pay. If he managed to reignite some hope in the crowd, so much the better. Addressing the expectant crowd of beggars silently standing before them, he extended the egg. Share this amongst yourselves. A chorus of gratitude rang out from the crowd of beggars. System blessings upon you both, intoned one particularly gaunt mendicant as Jeff and Fracta turned to leave. Emwarr, wiping her eyes, called out one last piece of advice. Watch out for your spider friend, Jeff. Sharkey and his followers have a particular hatred for arachnids and insectoid species. Fracta dipped her antennae in gratitude toward the rodent woman, and both she and Jeff turned to look back across the length of the square, where Bonifak and his soldiers still remained. The squad had been glaring at them silently all throughout their exchange with the beggars, only now turning away to deal with another group of newly arrived Contestants stepping through the portal. Jeff noticed that the malevolent winged creature was nowhere to be seen. He guessed that Bonifak must have sent it off to relay news of their arrival to the Citadel. Exhausted, and feeling the pangs of hunger themselves, they wasted no more time. Jeff and Fracta left the square containing the entrance portal, and passing between the gap between the vacant buildings, began walking along the tree lined avenue. Chapter Twenty-Four鈥擜 Warm Welcome After a few minutes, the road led them into another square, which Jeff reckoned to be the heart of Tantalus Town. Drawing on their earlier conversation with Emwarr, Jeff had tried to sketch a mental map of the area; what he saw before them pretty much tallied with her description. The roughly rectangular space before them was hemmed in on either side by an assortment of tents, shanties and lean-tos. These shabby abodes seemed to house the bulk of the Contestants in Tantalus. Interspersed between the shacks, Jeff saw several merchants at their stalls, peddling a range of goods. Some enterprising sellers offered a selection of local snacks, including grilled rodents on sticks, large parboiled slugs in baps and other swamp-sourced delicacies. Around the market stalls and the unappetizing snack-shacks loitered a gaggle of beggars, some standing, others sitting listlessly on the dusty floor. Among them, street performers attempted to earn a crust by playing musical instruments. One such performer, a humanoid with feline features, his matted fur dulled by mange, juggled a kaleidoscopic array of colored balls above his head. With a flourish, he launched them skywards, where they spun around in a complex ballet amongst the dun clouds, before cascading back into his hands. A tell-tale nimbus haloed his head, a sure sign he was utilizing a Skill of some sort. As Jeff watched the small, colored balls ascend up into the oppressive atmosphere of Tantulus, his gaze travelled back down to the bedraggled features of the performer. He couldnt help but feel that the act was a defiance against the implacable, oppressive might of the Tournament. As each ball fell back down, inevitably, it seemed like a reflection of the difficulties he was sure he was about to face. Dominating the town square stood what Jeff assumed to be the gruel fountain Emwarr had mentioned earlier. The large, ornamental fountain was made of a strange, crystalline material, its faceted surfaces catching the rays of the setting sun. Grayish, unappetizing looking sludge oozed sluggishly out of a series of spigots into a shallow basin at the base of the fountain. Players clutching small wooden bowls waited patiently in line, under the watchful eyes of yet another detachment of Sharkeys soldiers. All of the Contestants that Jeff could see were still stuck in the J Grade, their stats considerably weaker than his or Fractas. Through the gaps between the low-rise buildings and hovels that bordered the square on either side, Jeff caught glimpses of the swamplands. Every so often, gusts of hot, fetid air wafted over from the marshy expanses on either side, redolent of decay and rot. At the far end of the square, another avenue stretched away into the distance, flanked on either side by the glimmering sheen of water. Leading to it, a labyrinthine rats maze of shanties and shacks sprawled out from the town center, their ramshackle forms butting against the more imposing buildings that lined the waterfront at the seas edge. These structures framed the wide boulevard, stretching out towards the seafront. Jeff guessed this was the causeway Emwarr had spoken of, and rising up beyond it, he could just make out some sort of structure, obscured by a yellowish mist. He squinted, trying to make out more details. The building was undoubtedly the Crystal Citadel, but obscured in some way, the layout of the distant turrets and towers impossible to focus on through the magical haze. Jeff and Fracta threaded their way around the perimeter of the square, not tempted to stop and browse the meager wares on display at the merchant stalls. Eventually, they came to a larger, more substantial building which bore the hallmarks of an inn or guesthouse. A hand-painted sign hanging outside displayed a stylized depiction of a decapitated alien and the words The Autochs Head. On the ground floor, they observed patrons huddled around rustic tables, eating unappetizing looking slop, whilst others drank rancid-looking ale from flagons as they leaned against a long, worn bar. As well as fumes from pipes and bongs hanging heavy in the air, Jeff noticed again that general atmosphere of defeat amongst the clientele, the lingering stench of hopelessness and despair. He observed that the majority of the inhabitants of the inn and the people out in the square were bipedal, to a greater or lesser degree. Ranging from the squat bodied, possibly high gravity environment types to taller, thinner elfin features, they nearly all walked on two legs, with two arms. Skin types and colors varied greatly, from scales to fur, and many sported horns or pointed ears. A couple were possessed of wings, and one misshapen individual even seemed to be a fungal-based being. As they stepped further into the establishment and made their presence known, the general noise level and chatter abruptly subsided. Heads spun in their direction, and most of the customers stopped what they were doing to stare at them. Again, most of the scrutiny seemed to be directed at Fracta. Fracta nudged him with a pedipalp and pointed to a far corner of the room where a group of dejected looking Contestants sat around a table, clutching their ale flagons. Amongst them was the tree-man Jeff had observed on the way up the mountain, flying past on the fast-track escalator. All of the sad faced individuals had the same thing in commonOn the Ents and everyone elses forehead was a freshly applied brand mark, the control rune of Pain seared into the woody bark-like skin of his forehead. Jeff scanned the crowded inn a while longer, hoping for a glimpse of Bernard and Wenwyn. To his disappointment, the giant Sasquatch and the chameleon-woman were nowhere to be seen. What Jeff assumed to be the innkeeper hurried over to them. The shifty looking individual had distinctive reptilian characteristicsa pointed face like a lizard, with scaly skin and slitted eyes. A large, leathery frill fanned out around its neck, framing its features. NAME: Tafaf Havakas RACE: Quelck Lizardman, Grade J HIT POINTS (HP): 80/80 +5 MANA POINTS (MP): 20/20 REWARD: 190 Coins Total Attribute Points: 67 The innkeeper was still clutching a half polished glass in one hand, cloth in the other. Greetings, greetings, fellow Contestants, Tafaf began, unease apparent in his sing-song like voice. For you, fine sir, a room I''ve got but for your eight-legged friend, Im afraid I have not Im very sorry but unfortunately theres no room at the inn for entities of your particular type, he addressed Fracta, breaking momentarily out of rhyme. The reptilian innkeeper squirmed with embarrassment, the frill around his neck puffing up as he spoke, signaling his distress. It''s an edict, you see, of King Sharkey''s throne. His spies abound in every home. In every corner of Tantalus, his word is law. No spiders welcomeWhat a bore. Sharkeys orders Im afraid. Tafaf continued prosaically. He shuffled awkwardly on the spot, still unconsciously cleaning the glass in his hand. Oh, how it irks me, to turn away gold, to send a paying customer out in the cold. Its fine Jeff, you should take a room. Ill sleep outside somewhere. Fracta said, already moving to the door. Before she could leave, Jeff reached out and held one of her appendages, halting her. Turning to the embarrassed looking innkeep he addressed him in a low voice, Just a minute, surely theres something we can do to work this out Accessing his ring storage, he pulled out a fistful of gleaming coins and extended them towards the innkeeper. The lizardmans eyes lit up at the sight of all the coins, his rectangular pupils dilating into slits with greed. Licking his lips with a thin grey tongue, he glanced around the room furtively. Round the back, please do wait, see you in five, I wont be late he whispered. Jeff and Fracta retreated to the street outside, away from the prying eyes of the inns clientele. Walking down a side alley adjacent to the building, they entered a modest courtyard, partially hidden from view. While they waited, Fracta requested that Jeff deal with the avaricious landlord. Ill let you do the negotiating, Im still not clear on this thing you call capitalism. Jeff nodded, recalling the strange conversation hed had with Fracta while climbing the mountain. He had thrown her into a state of utter confusion when he tried to explain the plot of the movie Wall Street. The phrase greed is good had been particularly confusing for Fracta, what with her coming from a communally minded society. Jeff on the other hand, was well versed in the dynamics of a market-driven society, and wouldnt have it any other way.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Eventually the innkeeper arrived, casting worried glances over his shoulder to ensure they were unobserved. He beckoned them towards a low-slung outhouse, set away from the main building. Unlocking the sturdy wooden door with a large iron key, Tafaf led them inside what was basically a storage room. The space was filled with bales of straw, sacks of animal feed, and shelves holding various types of supplies for the inn. Despite the absence of real beds, for Jeff, after so many nights spent sleeping in the open, the room felt like a sanctuary. Wasting no time, he negotiated a price for three nights, and exacted a promise that Tafaf would keep their presence at the inn a secret. He handed over the coins to the practically salivating reptile, and after taking possession of the key, he saw the capitalistic innkeep out and secured the door. Collapsing onto a bale of hay, he divested himself of his cumbersome chainmail and breathed a sigh of relief. Jeff finally felt his muscles begin to relax. Remaining battle ready for an extended period had created some tension in his shoulders. They split another of the nourishing Roc eggs between them, feeling rejuvenated as they ate its mana-infused contents. You have eaten a mana-imbued food item. Your Vitality has risen by 1 Jeff noted with pleasure that the egg was still as hot as if it had been freshly plucked from a pool of incandescent mana. The storage ring it seemed, had the welcome side effect of acting like a stasis device, preserving foods freshness and potency. Fracta and Jeff chatted for a while about their next move, and decided that now was the time to grindthe dungeons seemed the logical next step before dealing with the Citadel and Sharkeys gang. Resisting the allure of the hay bales, Jeff pulled himself to his feet. It might be a good time to check out the Store again, he said, yawning. Yes good idea, Fracta responded. but lets enter one at a time. Ill keep watch first. She peered nervously at the wooden door, obviously concerned about some kind of attack by Sharkeys forces. Wasting no time, Jeff clicked the icon in his console, summoning a doorway to the Tournament Store. Entering, he was greeted by the omnipresent metallic grey form of Boz, rigid behind the counter, peering at him impassively with its single huge eye. You have entered the Tournament Store The door to the library sprang open and Misty came bounding across the room, exuberantly flinging herself into his arms, once again. Hi Jeff, long time no see! Hello Misty, Jeff began, gently disengaging her arms from around his neck. I need to make a few purchases, and figure out a few things in the library. Can you assist? Of course, Master Jeff! Misty practically gushed with enthusiasm. I live to serve. Just tell me what you need. Great, Jeff responded. Swiveling back to the counter, Jeff extracted the five weighty ingots of strange metal he and Fracta had looted from the cave rocs. He arranged the black and gold bars neatly on the countertop before directing his enquiry to Boz. Could you tell me the value of this metal? The robotic storekeeper abruptly jerked to life, a manipulator claw extending down to grasp one of the metal bars, lifting it so that it was level with its large optical sensor. A thin laser beam shot out of its eye orb, scanning the length of the ingot. Boz whirred and clicked for a moment, then rasped out in its emotionless, uninflected tone, Rivan DarksteelMetal, yet not conventional metal. Exists as a Fermi Liquid. More clicks and buzzes. Exotic mattervery rare. Oh, sure. Whatever you say, Jeff agreed, not wanting to get into a discussion on quantum mechanics with the storekeeper. A new system dialog box appeared over one of the ingots, offering more information about the looted bars. ITEM: [Ingot of Rivan Darksteel] ITEM TYPE: Magical Material ITEM CLASS: Peak, Grade F REQUIREMENTS: Crafting Skill, Runic Knowledge EXPANDABLE: (N/A) DESCRIPTION: Rivan Darksteel is renowned across the System universe for its physical indestructibility. Whats more, armor fashioned from Darksteel can, if forged correctly using the Old Ways, render the wearer impervious to magical attacks. Jeff read and digested this information. And the valuation? Five hundred coins, the robot paused for a moment, as if performing additional calculations, then added, per ingot. Jeffs eyes widened in astonishment at the value of the metal bars. The total worth of the haul amounted to a whopping two thousand five hundred coins. When divided equally between himself and Fracta, this unexpected jackpot would allow them to invest in much needed equipment and Skills. Still, Jeff hesitated for a moment, pondering the wisdom of selling all of the trove immediately. How easy is it to work this stuff? He inquired, glancing over towards the forge door. Misty quickly interjected before Boz could crank out a sentence. Rivan Darksteel is a coveted material used in the crafting of elite-level weaponry and armor, of at least Grade F or higher. However, working with it requires a degree of expertise. You may be capable of making use of this material correctly if you purchase a Crafting skill, and then spend some time researching the tomes in the library. Jeff made his mind up. After briefly conferring with Fracta via the RemoteTalk Bangle on his wrist, he gave Boz an affirmative nod and proceeded to sell four of the five precious bars. You have sold Four Ingots of Rivan Darksteel - Gain: 2000 coins After conferring with Misty about the workings of the console and the inventory system, he figured out how to transfer a sum of one thousand coins over to Fractas account. The single remaining bar of Darksteel went back into his ring storage for future use. Jeff lingered at the store counter for a while longer. Although he was fully intending to spend much of his hard earned stash of coins on Skills, he was equally determined to purchase some items of a more mundane, utilitarian nature. He had promised himself whilst climbing the mountain that he would not spend a single night more sleeping in the open, or shivering for lack of basic clothing and essential equipment. Just because its camping, no need to rough it he told himself. He spent the next few minutes rapidly scanning the Store catalog, going through a shopping list with Boz, including ropes, cooking utensils, clothing, hunting and fishing gear, and various other items needed for spending extended periods outdoors. He did not skimp, and due to the seemingly infinite storage capacity of the ring inventory system was able to get some rather bulky items. Amongst the large array of purchases he made was a magical structure, something like a pop-up yurt, which when erected was almost the size of a small cottage. Jeff couldn''t resist outfitting the tent with a plush oversized bed, larger even than an Alaskan Kingas well as feather pillows and soft furs, an extravagance he couldnt resist. He observed with some envy the other, much more lavish abodes further up the price scale. Palatial structures complete with moats and automated defenses; some of the top end accommodation even boasted the capability of flight. The lavish promotional material accompanying a 50,000 Coin cloud fortress caught his eye. The airborne palace, with a cruising speed of over five hundred miles an hour came complete with five bedrooms, a workshop, landscaped gardens and even a menagerie. In all, Jeff spent six hundred coins on essentials for the trail. Feeling much better equipped, he pivoted to the library, ready to begin selecting some new Skills. Misty trailed closely behind him, tugging on his sleeve to get his attention. Jeff, I dont mean to induce panic, but theres something you should know. The exit portal connecting Tantalus to the staging area for this sectors Tournament Elimination Rounds is set to close in just over three days. Once it does, it wont reopen for another year and a half. Jeffs stride came to an abrupt, jarring halt. His feeling of euphoria from the sale of the Darksteel and his subsequent retail therapy was eclipsed by a now all to familiar feeling of tension. Swiveling around to squarely face Misty, he declared in a demanding tone, I think we need to talk about this Tournament. Right now. Gripping the AI firmly by the elbow, he dragged her into the wood paneled library. They settled into the plush, leather-bound armchairs before the eternally crackling open fire. I need some clarity on the Tournaments structureI want to know how many stages there are, and how long it will take for me to complete them, Jeff spoke quietly, but with a tone of utmost seriousness in his voice. Jeff, I believe theres been a misunderstanding, Misty replied gently, using the opportunity to reach across the gap between their chairs and place a comforting hand on his knee. There is no end to the Tournament. It is eternal. Even the Emperor himself occasionally still participates, to hone his Skills, Misty continued, her voice again shifting into a didactic, lecturing timbre. The Community of Equalscomprising all member races across the System universehas designated the Tournament as the basis of the hierarchical structure of our society. You must understand, competition is the essence of all existence. After the events of the Vogellian Ascendancy, it was collectively decided that the long era of interspecies conflict needed to cease. Rather than the endless cataclysmic, wars that preceded it, a new way of managing the System emerged. Think of the Tournament as a framework for resource-distribution, alliance-building and the settling of disputes. Jeff listened silently, skeptical of this rosy portrayal of what was obviously a brutal social order. Recalling the threat of subjugation and liquidation, he interjected. So how long before the danger to Earth is lifted? How many stages do I need to complete? Misty nodded, her approving expression similar to that of a teacher congratulating a bright pupil in class. An excellent question, Jeff. Succeed in the regional playoffs and Earth will gain Candidate status. Qualify for entry to the Prime League and you will be granted a seat at the table, provisional membership of the Community of Equals. And then Earth will be safe? Jeff pressed, sensing there was a lot more complexity to the situation than Misty was letting on. In a manner of speaking, Yesbut also no, Misty replied, ambiguously. No species is ever perpetually protected in the System universe Why, its even theoretically possible that one day, the Vogels could be ousted from their apex position, and another race could Ascend. OK. So what becomes of the species that dont make it to the next stage of the Tournament from here? Jeff thought back to Emwarr and her sad, downtrodden friends. Failure to proceed to the Elimination Rounds eventually dooms the players people to a future of subservience. Their planetary assets are seized and they are relegated to the status of vassal species. To Jeff, the phrase Elimination Round had a peculiarly ominous ring to it. Misty, exactly how many make it past the elimination rounds? he probed. Mistys feline ears twitched and her long tail whipped back and forth nervously. She seemed to be deliberately avoiding eye contact with Jeff as she spoke. Well, that depends on a number of factors and can vary from sector to sector How many? Jeff demanded, his eyes narrowing as he sensed that the AI was prevaricating. With a sigh, she sat back down in the chair opposite and answered. Well, on average, almost 5% of Contestants survive the Elimination Rounds and go on to qualify for the regional playoffs. Misty admitted, then quickly added, But Im sure youll be fine Jeff. Were all very impressed with your performance so far On hearing the awful statistic, Jeff sank back into the overstuffed armchair, feeling a chill sweep over him despite the roaring fire. Again his thoughts turned to his journey through space to Selis 2, recalling the other, countless blue beams of light, imagining the endless flow of reluctant Contestants, press-ganged into competing in the Tournament. A cosmic meat grinder designed to enslave and annihilate whole species. And this was just one regional Sector of the vast System universe, one sector amongst billions. Interstellar genocide on an unimaginable scale This is insane. I should be in my apartment, stretched out on my couch, gaming, or downing a few beers with friends Jeff involuntarily clutched his head in his hands, once again feeling singled out, victimized and harassed by fate, whilst at the same time fraught with anxiety over Earths precarious future. Emwarr and the other hopeless beggars attitudes now made even more sense. The massive numbers of Contestants still lingering in Tantalus, not attempting to push through the portal to the Elimination rounds, were perhaps following the only logical course of action. Remain here, in the relative safety of Tantalus, eke out a fragile existence, and delay the inevitablebuy time for their species before the Vogels moved in. A wave of shame washed over him as he remembered his earlier contempt for the beggars and the crowd of drunks in the inn. He had been way too quick to judge. It was obvious now: if there had been any unified will to resist or push through, any true consensus among the Contestants, Sharkey would have never managed to keep them trapped on Tantalus. Misty fussed around him, attempting to draw him out of his funk. There, there she cooed solicitously, attempting to cradle his head between her ample bosom. Again, Jeff wondered about the reason for his selection. His training in martial arts, and his overall physical strength were possibilities, but Jeff knew that prior to his first class evolution he had in no way been an elite athlete or fighter. Perhaps it was a combination of various factors? From his conversations with Misty, he was aware that the Systems Algorithm took into account a huge variety of different variables before making a choice. Then another possibility suddenly occurred to himhis gaming knowledge and experience. The System universe and the Tournament operated on a framework that was strangely similar to the role-playing games he was so addicted to. Perhaps being an avid gamer for so many years had contributed towards his selection. Well, Jeff thought grimly, standing up and moving over to the Skills Console. Time to put that gaming experience to good use. Chapter Twenty-Five鈥擲kill Shortage After dedicating a couple of hours to studying at the Skills console, Jeff had narrowed down his options considerably. The [Mana Burst] Skill, which he had noticed earlier, still seemed a good fit, and was relatively cheap at 500 coins. Jeff decided to devote the remainder of his funds to a non-combat related Skill. Ever since he had seen the array of resources available to him in the adjacent Forge room, Jeff had been itching to try his hand at crafting. Scrolling through the list, Jeff immediately eliminated a whole bunch of the available crafting Skills that were unsuited to his Class and his Spellsword Path. The intricacies of Musical Composition Level One, and the subtleties of Cantrip Creation were clearly tailored for those with a Bard Class. Similarly, he discounted a large number of Skills which seemed more artistic in purpose than anything else, such as Textile Arts and Writing Composition. In his searches through the database, he even came across a Simple Basket Weaving Skill! Jeff, curious about these seemingly useless Skills, quizzed Misty on the subject. "Misty, why would anyone focus on skills like Basket Weaving in the Tournament? Aren''t we here to fight? Jeff, the Tournament is not just a violent battlefield. It is a crucible of competition that transcends mere physical combat. At the higher stages of the Tournament, it is possible to progress and further your races cause through non-combatant paths. Many Tournament Contestants have risen high in the rankings with their artistic creations. She continued to explain, whilst sneakily pressing herself against Jeffs shoulder as he sat. Take for instance, The famous Celestial Poet, Arturul IV. He soared to the heights of the third division of the Community of Equalsnot through martial prowess, but with the power of his words. His masterpiece, the Ode to Tourney Tilter Mistanza was a seven-week long madrigal, an epic love poem dedicated to his fellow artist and lover Mistanza Heckopet, who was killed while taking part in a sculpting duel. Sculpting duelOkay Jeff said slowly, leaning back in his chair and submitting to Mistys shoulder rub. Misty continued, listing other, non-combatant System-dwellers who had risen to Grade D and beyond. Who could forget the infamous Grey Grouter, master architect to the nobility of the Sempiternal Empire. The Grouter excelled in the [Interior Design] Skill, and was the architect of many fine tombs and mausoleums across the capital planet of the Undead, Ankh-D?m. Woe betide any grave robber or tomb raider foolhardy enough to sneak into one of the Grey Grouters creationshis traps and pitfalls are legendary. Its said he attained Potentate status and ascended, purely from following his own self-created Masons Path. Jeff nodded, silently digesting the info. Undead? A chill went down his spine on hearing Mistys casual chatter, unlocking a whole new level of weirdness. Carefully maintaining a neutral expression, he shelved any further questions he had on the subject and returned to the matter at hand. In the vast catalog, there were various Skills that specialized in the working of particular materials. Jeff immediately discounted those that specialized in wood and leather, which narrowed it down some more. He ended up with a shortlist of three Skills. The [Alchemy Basic] Skill was a tempting choice. Jeff browsed through the marketing material for the Skill, intrigued by the variety of arcane concoctions and volatile mixtures he could create. Mastery of poisons and an innate understanding of alchemical processes could be extremely useful in the production of deadly weaponry. As well as dealing with magical sorcery and alchemy, the Skill also granted proficiency in regular chemistry. Jeff thought for a moment about the enticing possibility of bomb makingIEDs, WMDs and even battlefield nukes, with the requisite materiel. The [Metalworking Basic] Skill was the next option. Unlike the Alchemy Skill, it somehow seemed a more tangible asset to Jeffthe ability to forge and enhance his own weaponry and armor could be invaluable going forward. Runic etching, or Rune-Smithing, especially, piqued his interest; engraving his gear with runes of power could provide a crucial advantage in combat. To Jeff, the runes were like the Systems underlying machine code. Greater fluency in this arcane language would give him a valuable edge in the Tournament. Once again, he was reminded of the complex symbol emblazoned on the head of the Steel Mage. If he could but tap into a fraction of that power, he knew he would be a force to be reckoned with on any battlefield. The final choice, [Tool Proficiency] (Basic), was more generalized, and offered versatility. The Skill gave the user the ability to allocate points between various sub-skills, such as elixirs, smithing, and something called earth-power. Jeffs decision began to crystallize in his mind. He naturally gravitated towards MetalworkingSomething about the strength and durability of metal, and the ability to create bladed weapons from it, called out to him. Additionally, he was keen to make use of the rare Rivan Darksteel ingot in his inventory. He had several ideas about what he could fashion using the adamantine substance. Jeff felt a twinge of buyers remorse as he paid seven hundred coins for the Metalworking skill and an additional five hundred for the Mana Burst skill, wincing as he watched his balance of coins plummet. The System flashed a confirmation: Skills Acquired Metalworking Basic Mana Burst (1)A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. As soon as the System confirmed the purchase, Jeff felt the familiar rush of knowledgea steady transmission of information, all the techniques and abilities of a skilled blacksmithflowing into his mind. The smell of molten iron and the clang of hammer on steel, a strange memory of a memory, becoming a part of his identity. He closed his eyes, savoring the experience. Jeff now instantly possessed an intimate understanding of alloys, the tempering of metal and the art of forging blades. And as he meditated on swords, axes and knives, all honed to a razor finish, another image intruded into his consciousnessthat mysterious rune emblazoned on the forehead of the Steel Mage. As soon as the [Metalworking] skill had settled firmly into his mind, the [Mana Burst] Skill began its own integration, stitching new pathways of power through his body. Emanating from his Core Space, freshly forged conduits began to open up. Mentally, Jeff looked inwards, to the cavernous space in his spiritual center. The roiling pool of densely concentrated, unaspected mana was now undergoing a radical transformation. Twin rivulets curved off from the main pool, pouring through gaps in the cavernous walls. Jeff felt a ludicrously painful sensation down his spine, up through his shoulders and along both of his arms, causing him to shout out in agony. From his hands, he saw a glow of pure energy starting to shine through, small silver filaments appearing on his palms and along the length of his fingers. The pain instantly subsided and Jeff, wonderingly, looked down at his hands and fingers, which glowed faintly with a brilliant blue light. Concentrating, he pushed more mana through the twin channels branching from his Core Space, and the glow brightened. The more he pushed, the brighter the glow, until he felt a limit had been reached. He directed the flow, concentrating, until above the palm of each of his hands, glowing blue orbs of mana hung suspended in the air. He noted with interest that the mana had been transformed at some point, no longer the pure, unaspected type that circulated in his Core Space. Now it was an active, destructive type of mana he had not seen before. The energy seemed to have been imbued with an explosive characteristic. Jeff instinctively knew that he could hurl the bolts of energy some distance, with devastating results. Experimenting, he sucked the energy back into the newly created channels, returning it into his Core Space. This caused the glowing blue balls of energy to dissipate, and his MP was replenished, clicking back up. Think of it like voltage and wattage. 10 MP is about the maximum your meridians and pathways can channel right now, but continue to evolve the Skill and your Grade, and youll be able to push out more mana from a bigger pool each time, Misty commented, excitedly leaning over the back of his chair and peering down at his glowing hands on the desk. What type of mana is it? Jeff inquired, staring in fascination down at his hands as the blue energy pulsed and flickered between his fingers. The skill automatically converts the stream of raw mana from your Core Space into an aggressive form, primed for offense. With Cultivation practice and study of runic knowledge, you should eventually be able to create mana of almost any aspect. Why not give it a try? Jeff experimented, and once again conjuring the image of the Fire rune in his minds eye, willed the mana flickering around his fingers to transform. As if in response, a pulse of something coursed through his channels from the pool in his central Core Space. The energy coating his hands slowly turned from blue to a deep, intense red. Jeff could feel heat beginning to emanate from his fingers, the air quivering with the intensityso much so that he actually experienced physical pain, and the cuffs of his shirt sleeves began to smoke. Hurriedly, he switched off the Skill, the flickers of flame around his fingertips winking out. He did not want a repeat of his experience on the mountain top. Some types of mana are easier to create than others, like the Fire mana you just created. Converting from unaspected mana to basic elemental types is just the beginning. After you have mastered Fire, Earth, Water and Air mana, you can move on to more complex attunements. Moving on with his to-do list, Jeff was just about to proceed over to the forge to practice with the [Metalworking] Skill, when he suddenly recalled the loot box he had won after vanquishing Mistress Vasuka. Calling up his ring inventory, Jeff was unable to find any mention of the prize. Misty chose this moment to pipe up. Jeff, check the Awards and Loot Boxes Tab in your inventory to access any unopened boxes. A word of warning though, always read the boxs description before opening or using the contents. Some of the rewards can haveunexpectedside effects. Jeff navigated back to his inventory once again, and sure enough, a new tab had appeared, labelled Awards and Loot Boxes. He mentally selected the Boss Box inside. Once again, the riveted bronze chest appeared, materializing in midair in the library. ITEM: [Boss BoxCommon Tier] ITEM TYPE: Loot Box REQUIREMENTS: None EXPANDABLE: (Not Expandable) DESCRIPTION: As a reward for successfully clearing a training level, you are awarded a Boss BoxCommon Tier. Contents: A pair of bladed metal gauntlets, riveted and lined internally for comfort. Jeff reached out tentatively. The instant his fingers brushed its surface, the chest disappeared, popping out of existence like a soap bubble. Sure enough, a pair of beautiful metal gauntlets appeared on the desk in front of him. Jeff let out an involuntary whistle, impressed by the craftsmanship of the items. They were excellently wrought from a shining steel compound, the metal shimmering with a lustrous blue hue, and were large enough to provide complete coverage to his hands, wrists and forearms. The articulation at each finger joint was meticulously engineeredeach joint allowing dexterity for weapons use without sacrificing protection.The bladed cusps protruding from each fingertip shone with lethality, rendering the gauntlets weapons in their own right. Jeff thought of the potential of the gauntlets in battle, and imagined multiple ways to adjust his fighting style to make the utmost use of them. He added them to his inventory and took a moment to peruse his stats.
NAME: Jeff Nostro RACE: Human HIT POINTS (HP): 80/180 (+10*) MANA POINTS (MP): 70/170 Path: Spellsword [Hidden]
  • Path Rewrite: Awarded if 7 tribulations are completed.
  • Tribulations passed: 2/7
GRADE: I, Level 2 CLASS: Arcane Duelist 2 SKILLS:
  • Physical Fitness (Level 2)
  • Identify (Level 1)
  • High Pain Threshold (Level 4)
  • Combat Proficiency (Level 3)
    • Sub-Skill: [Unarmed Blade] Level 1
  • First Aid (Level 1)
  • Dodge (Level 2)
  • Jump (Level 1)
  • Poison Resistance (Level 1)
  • Mana Essence (Level 4)
  • Cooking (Level 1)
  • Metalworking Basic (Level 1)
  • Mana Burst (Level 1)
CLASS SKILLS:
  • Infinite Sword (Level 1)
  • Cutting Edge (Level 2)
ATTRIBUTES:
  • Strength: 30
  • Speed: 29 (+2*)
  • Vitality: 34 (+2*)
  • Endurance: 20 (+2*)
  • Cognition: 23
  • Offense: 40
  • Defense: 25 (+7*)
  • Stealth: 11 (+5*)
  • Total Attribute Points: 212
  • Unallocated Attribute Points: 0
He took a quick look at his inventory. ITEM: [Short Sword] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Janissary Long Sword, Leech], Infantryman of the Crepuscular Marshes Standard-Issue, Rare, Level 2, (Expandable), +4 Offense (Stackable) ITEM: [Goblin Bone Dagger] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [VogelCorp Aether Powered Chainsaw] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable) +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Netherworm Corruption Poison, small bladder] ITEM: [Periapt of The Erstwhile Tree Gods] Uncommon, Level 2 (Not Expandable) +2 Vitality, +2 Endurance, +10 HP (Stackable) - Equipped ITEM: [Ningish Orb of Mana Replenishment] Rare, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +50% Mana Boost (temporary), x 12 ITEM: [Chain Mail] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Defense, (Not Stackable) - Equipped ITEM: [Helm of Enchantment] Common, Level 1 (Expandable), +5 Defense (Not Stackable) - Equipped ITEM: [Orcish Battle Boots] - +2 Speed (Not Stackable) - Equipped ITEM: [Oaken Iron Bound Barrel], Contents: Pure Mana 500/500 ITEM: [Shuriken - Shadars Tooth] + 5 Offense (Not Stackable), Level 1 (Expandable). 10 MP per use. ITEM: [Ingot of Rivan Darksteel] Very Rare, Level 5 ITEM: [Rapier] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Long Sword] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Cutlass] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +1 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Dagger] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Battle Axe] Common, Level 1 (Not Expandable), +2 Offense (Not Stackable) ITEM: [Cave Roc Egg], cooked, x 4 ITEM: [Cave Roc Egg], uncooked, x 6 ITEM: [Cloak of Distraction] Uncommon, Level 2 (Not Expandable) +2 Defense, +5 Stealth (Stackable) ITEM: [RemoteTalk Bangle] - One, Equipped, Paired ITEM: [Steel Bladed Gauntlets, Pair] - Uncommon, Level 2 (Expandable) +5 Offense (Stackable) COINS: 189 Pushing himself upright, Jeff stepped away from the Skills Console, keen to dive into the Forge to test out his his newly acquired crafting Skill. Chapter Twenty-Six鈥擠ungeon Crawlers Jeff spent the next few hours shuttling backwards and forwards between the forge and the library, fully absorbed with designing his first metalworking project. He had decided to craft a shielda relatively simple but essential piece of military equipment. Jeff hoped it would provide much-needed protection in the battles ahead. At first, he toyed with the idea of crafting a large, pavise-style shield, one that could offer complete protection from ground to head height. With the unlimited capacity of his ring and the functionality of the magical inventory storage system, the usual concerns surrounding storage and the unwieldiness of the medieval shield design became irrelevant. He could equip and de-equip it at a moments notice. But ultimately, he discarded the idea, opting for a smaller, lighter design. The pavise, Jeff felt, lent itself to a more passive, defensive combat style, more suited for warriors who primarily used ranged weapons to harry an enemy from a distance. It wasnt compatible with his preference for a aggressive, close-quarters melee strategy. Another factor in his decision was the limited amount of Rivan dark steel left in his inventory. Incorporating the rare metal into the shield meant a smaller design was the more prudent choice. In the end, Jeff settled on crafting a heater shield. This choice of design, with its pointed bottom and curved top offered a good balance between mobility and protection, particularly for the upper body. With his plan set, Jeff spent a moment familiarizing himself with the forges mechanisms, looking through the hoppers and bins lining the walls of the room to find the necessary materials before igniting the furnace. He found a bin stacked full of solid steel bars, which he helped himself to, loading several into a large stone crucible designed for just such a purpose. Once the bars had melted in the furnace, he poured the liquid steel into a simple wax mold he had prepared earlier. After letting the metal cool slightly, Jeff began hammering it into shape, delivering even blows to flatten and lengthen the soft steel. With each stroke, he smoothed out imperfections, guiding the material into the perfect form. As he worked, Jeff fell into a steady rhythm, a growing connection forming between him and the metal. He unexpectedly found himself enjoying the physical labor. There was something calming about the processworking the steel, the way the shield gradually took shape under his hands. For a moment, all his worries faded. The Tournament, the Vogels, the looming deadline to escape Tantalusall vanished from his thoughts. There was only him and the shield. With each stroke, he felt the metal growing stronger beneath his hammer. Finally satisfied with the foundation, Jeff rolled the edges, leaving space for the shield boss in the center. He set the heater-shaped steel plate on the crafting table to cool. Reaching into his ring storage, Jeff retrieved the remaining ingot of Rivan darksteel. The gold veins running through its dark surface glinted mysteriously in the light of the forge. He grabbed a smaller crucible from a shelf and straining under its weight, placed the ingot inside, adding a handful of diamonds to act as a catalyst. Jeff tended to the fire, working the bellows tirelessly, bringing the rune-inscribed coals to a blazing seven thousand degrees. The forges heat intensified, and Jeff was dripping with sweat, but he kept pumping air between the coals until they glowed white hot. He carefully placed the crucible into the center of the fire and continued working the bellows. The diamonds shattered and began to sublimate, turning into gas and reacting with the Rivan darksteel, which started to shimmer and liquefy. Donning gloves, Jeff used tongs to pull the crucible from the forge. Mindful not to spill a drop, he poured the precious molten metal into the shield mold. The exotic metal shifted and flowed, perfectly filling every contour of the shields surface. Jeff watched, fascinated as within moments, the entire shield, front and back, was coated in the densely glowing black metal. The only part left uncovered was the indentation in the center, reserved for the shield boss. Poised to begin the next stagerunic engravingJeff suddenly realized that it would have to wait. Fatigue had crept up on him. He would have to finish the shield off another day. Jeff returned to their simple room at the inn and relieved Fracta of her guard duty. As she disappeared through her own portal into the Tournament Store, Jeff dragged together a few of the bales of hay lying around the room. Collapsing back onto the makeshift mattress, he fell into a deep slumber.
Early the next morning, Jeff and Fracta rose at first light, much invigorated after their sleep. They breakfasted heartily on a nourishing meal of scrambled roc egg mixed with chopped up pieces of the last Ahud nut. When cooked on Jeffs new aether-powered camp stove, the flesh of the nuts took on the texture of avocado, and were bursting with flavor. Jeff grinned to himself as he dined off a proper plate and scooped up his egg with real utensils, pleased with the cooking equipment he had purchased from the Tournament Store the day before. Slipping between the sparse shacks dotting the periphery of the Tantalus Town central square, they moved quietly and with stealth, so as not to wake the still slumbering residents. The heat of day had not yet started in earnest, but it was still unpleasantly hot and humid, and a damp breeze blew in from the marshes, carrying with it the stink of rot and decay. Nevertheless, Jeff and Fracta headed out, eager to grind in the dungeons. Emwarrs briefing and the shock discovery that the deadline to leave Tantalus was fast approaching had led Jeff and Fracta to strategize their dungeon dives. Because parties were not allowed to enter, they would not be able to fight together, so accordingly they had decided to split upFracta heading for the dungeon to the west of town, while Jeff would enter the one to the East. That way they would be able to gather more intel and hopefully improve their dungeon grinds over the next two days. Jeff and Fractas strategy was simple: to enhance their abilities to the fullest before entering the critical Elimination Rounds. With two days remaining before the window of opportunity closed, they knew that their assault on the Citadel would have the best possible chance of success if they were both at the peak of Grade I. Jeff was determined to hone his understanding of the Dao, in particular the Dao of Sundering, an offensive principle which he believed was the correct term for the Dao he was attempting to awaken.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. From his conversations with Misty, he had learnt that by gaining a deeper understanding of his first Dao he would eventually go on to receive a Dao seeda way of tapping into a reservoir of power which would greatly amplify his combat effectiveness. Meanwhile Fracta faced her own unique challenge. As she still had no clear understanding of any potential future attunement, she was eager to immerse herself in the brutal but target-rich environment of a Dungeon. Her goal was not just to refine her combat skills, but also to uncover the nature of her own potential Dao. You take care of yourself in there. Stay sharp. Fracta said, genuine emotion and affection sounding in her voice. Likewise. Dont take any unnecessary chances, Jeff replied, mindful of Emwarrs dire description of the dangers facing those who ventured beyond the treacherous swamps and into the dungeons, especially their high mortality rates. Jeff and Fracta parted ways, each heading in opposite directions. Jeff traced his steps back around the still silent town square, then veered off across the road, making his way through the mist-shrouded eastern marshes. Meanwhile, Fracta activated her [Shadow Walker] Skill to proceed unobserved across the terrain to the west. The warning from Emwarr, the rodent-woman about the pervasive institutional arachnophobia within Sharkeys army was making her extra cautious about being seen outdoors. Jeff navigated the boggy swamp with a mixture of caution and haste, covering the distance in about half an hour. Misty chose that moment to pop into existence beside him, floating along by his side in her beachball form as he navigated the swamp. Unprompted, she regaled him with facts about the planet and the terrain around him. Tantalus is classified as a Grade F clinker-planet, its existence predating the Vogel Ascendancy, even the System itself. The Crystal Citadel is a curious relic of a now extinct race that once populated this Sector. The planets resources have been ruthlessly extracted by successive civilizations over the millennia, leaving it stripped bare. Only the Citadel and the two dungeons remain. On two separate occasions he saw large beasts lumbering in the distance, their massive bulks partially visible through the mist. Fortunately they were heading in opposite directions, so Jeff reached the dungeon entrance without incident. The swamp ended abruptly, bordered by imposing rocky cliffs, their tops lost in the perpetual thick brown clouds. According to Emwarr, this geological formation was in fact just the start of a series of massive mountain ranges, a natural curtain wall that no-one had ever managed to successfully traverse. Nestled in between two huge rocky outcroppings, Jeff found the entrance to the Dungeona three meter tall door without markings or protuberances, made of the ubiquitous dull grey material Jeff had encountered before in other System-generated environments. Jeff stood before the imposing Dungeon door, reading the starkly worded System message that popped up in his display.
Warning! Grade I Dungeon, Tantalus-East. Single Level. Entry Prohibited to Entities Above Grade I. Enter at your own risk. This dungeon is currently set to individual-entry, no-retreat/no-surrender mode. The formation of parties is strictly prohibited. Dungeon completion is mandatory before exiting. The Dungeon Boss must be defeated to exit the dungeon. The Dungeon will respawn 1 hour after the Boss has been Defeated. Enter Dungeon? Y/N
Jeff was once again struck by the similarities between the Tournaments mechanics to his experiences of gaming back on Earth. He knew that a dungeon in any gaming environment was a place of opportunity, somewhere to gain experience and level Skills, but always with an element of danger. Jeff pulled Leech from his inventory, the sword seemed to hum in his grip, clearly eager for combat. He unhesitatingly selected Y, and the door before him swished open silently, revealing a narrow, claustrophobic corridor, just wide enough for two people to walk side by side, with a low slung uneven ceiling. The passage seemed to be carved from solid rock. Antique looking oil lamps dangled from iron sconces, casting their flickering light over the uneven stone walls. Stepping across the threshold into the tunnel-like passage, Jeff noticed an immediate drop in temperature. Slime and moisture glinted on the rocks and the rough-hewn floor was slippery beneath his feet. As soon as he ventured into the passageway, the dungeon door behind him dissolved into the rock wall, sealing him in. Jeff walked further along the subterranean passageway, which seemed to have been cut from the living rock. After traveling along its length for a couple of minutes, he felt a twinge of unease when he reached the final oil lamp. It flickered dimly in its sconce, but the tunnel continued onwards, shrouded in darkness. With some effort, Jeff was able to free the antique oil lamp from its bracket. Holding it overhead so as not to dazzle himself, he proceeded further down the inky-black tunnel. For over an hour he marched onwards, the tunnel cutting in a straight line through the rock, until his lamp flickered one last time and went out. Jeff was plunged into pitch blackness. Dropping the now useless oil lamp behind him with a clatter, he quickly retrieved his phone from his inventory and switching it on, activated its torch function. Again, he proceeded onwards. More time passed and eventually his phone flashed a low battery warning. He reluctantly powered down the phone, not wanting to run the battery out completely. Once again, the darkness smothered him, and without the comforting presence of his phone Jeff felt more alone than ever. Misty, any idea how long this is going to take? Jeff called out, his voice echoing hollowly along the corridor. No answer from the AI. Jeff continued forwards, cautiously edging his way along the tunnel, worried about traps, or other pitfalls. His earlier confidence was rapidly evaporating. Suddenly, something brushed his face in the dark, causing him to spin around, arms flailing. Another slight sensation of pressure on his back. Then abruptly, a heavy, foul smelling mass dropped on him, covering his head and shoulders like a blanket. Wherever the vile weight made contact, an icy, bone-chilling coldness seeped through, so cold it burned and numbed. You have been immobilized by a Grade I Cave Slime Mold Panicked, Jeff clawed at the suffocating mass covering his head, managing to rip clumps of it off of him with his bare hands. The cave slime moldan amorphous blob of freezing cold fungislid over his face, attempting to send tendrils into his mouth and nostrils. As he tore desperately at the disgusting, gelatinous mass, it simply oozed back, instantly reforming into its original shape, all the while freezing his exposed skin. Jeff was racked with shivers as the cold seeped into his bones. A Grade I Cave Slime Mold has Injured You Warning: Only Ten HP remaining Forcing himself not to panic, Jeff continued methodically ripping off chunks of the blob with his cold numbed fingers. Eventually he managed to pull off the bulk of the creature, and it either died or gave up on its attack. In the dark Jeff was unable to see. Another system notification appeared in his vision. Congratulations! You have killed a Grade I Cave Slime Mold Reward: One Omega Energy Point Your Strength Attribute has risen by 1 Jeff picked out the remaining bits of slimy fungal residue that clung to his hair. What the hell was that? he shouted angrily into the darkness. Shivering, he briskly rubbed his hands together to restore some feeling to his cold-numbed fingers. He reluctantly continued on, trudging along the nightmarish corridor, his only company the sound of his own footsteps echoing hollowly through the dark. After some time, Jeffs thoughts were interrupted by a loud clang that reverberated up and down the tunnel. His foot had struck something metallic. Groping around in the darkness, Jeffs fingers closed around the familiar shape of the empty oil lamp he had discarded earlier. Damn it, Ive walked back the way I came Cursing softly to himself, Jeff turned, and once again traipsed down the long black corridor in the correct direction. This time he was alerted to danger in advancea faint movement in the air, or a marginally darker blotch on the cave wall triggered his senses, causing him to jump to one side. A gelatinous mass thudded onto the ground where he had just stood. You have evaded the attack of a Grade I Cave Slime Mold Your Defense Attribute has risen by 1 Your Cognition Attribute has risen by 1 Jeff lashed out with his boots repeatedly, sending pieces of the quivering organism flying down the tunnel. You have killed a Grade I Cave Slime Mold Reward: One Omega Energy Point Your Offense Attribute has risen by 1 Jeff proceeded forwards cautiously. Wary of getting turned around again, he trailed his hand along the cool, damp rock wall on his left, while peering forward into the darkness. Congratulations! You have learnt the Skill Night Vision (Level 1) Was it his imagination, or was it slightly less dark now? Jeff continued on. Without warning, his hand met only empty airthe wall had disappeared. His surroundings seemed to have changedhe was no longer in a tunnel. The passages sidewalls had ended, and Jeff found himself in a cavernous space, although how large was anyones guess as there was still no light. Sliding his feet forward slowly, arms outstretched, Jeff continued forwards into the gloom. His caution paid off when his probing foot suddenly encountered thin air instead of the rocky flooring. Teetering back from the brink, Jeff settled himself on the lip of the drop, heart pounding. Pacing carefully up and down the edge, Jeff determined that the tunnel had opened up into a semicircular ledge overlooking a chasm. Just how deep was the chasm, he wondered? He fished a quarter out of his pocket and let it drop down into the dark expanse before him. One secondTwo secondsThree seconds A distant, faint clink'' rose up from the depths. The coin hit something rocky below. Jeff did a quick mental calculation and estimated the abyss to be over a hundred feet deep. Not a survivable fall, even with his boosted Vitality and Endurance. Jeff racked his brains trying to think of a way to measure the width of the divide, but was unable to come up with any reliable method. He tossed the remaining nickels and dimes in his pocket into the void; judging by the sounds produced, there was indeed something solid on the other side, and reasonably close too. Whether there was horizontal ground, or even a ledge, was unclear. Deliberating for a while, Jeff eventually came to a grim conclusionthe only direction was forward. Gonna have to make a leap of faith Edging backwards to the tunnel entrance, Jeff positioned himself in a semi-crouched stance, trying to work up the necessary courage. He took a few deep breaths of the stale cavern air, then ran at full pelt through the darkness, towards the edge. Chapter Twenty-Seven鈥擜 Leap of Faith Judging precisely where the drop started was difficult, so he had decided to take flight after exactly three paces. Swinging his arms forward to aid his momentum, he hurled himself across the pitch-black expanse. Leaning forward with arms windmilling, Jeff hurtled through the gloom. Success! His trailing feet brushed solid ground. Triumphantly, he fell forward, touching down on the other side of the chasm in a three-point-landing, superhero style, alert for any potential danger. You have passed a System generated test Reward: One Omega Energy Point & Five Free Attribute Points Your Speed Attribute has risen by 1 Your Cognition Attribute has risen by 1 The darkness around him had an almost deafening quality about it. Remaining crouched for a moment to regain his bearings, Jeff finally stood up. Stretching his arms forwards, he once again resumed shuffling forwards through the dark. After a few paces his fingers came into contact with solid stone. Probing to the left and right, his suspicions were confirmed when he found what appeared to be another passageway, identical to the one he had just left on the other side of the chasm. Lacking any other options, Jeff set off down the new tunnel. After a cautious minute of forward movement, Jeffs eyes brightened as they caught sight of a flicker of light in the distance. Remaining alert for traps and more slime molds, he pressed on, his stride lengthening slightly as the light level increased in the tunnel. As he advanced, more antique looking oil lamps hove into view, brightening the tunnel, which Jeff now saw was curving slightly to the left. Finally, after another hundred yards or so, the tunnel opened up into a cavern, illuminated by oil lamps in sconces around the side walls. More lamps hung from thick cast-iron chains, anchored to the rocky ceiling above. The lamps swayed backwards and forwards, buffeted by a steady wind blowing through the chamber. As they were blown, they cast complex shadows across the cave walls. Jeff moved forward slowly until he had reached the end of the tunnel, then, cautiously poking his head out, he took a closer look around. Before him lay a semi-circular area of ground, leading to another gaping chasm. On the other side of the divide, a mirror image of his current location gave way to another tunnel entrance. The abyss dividing the cavern stretched off to both his left and right. Though whether this void was a continuation of the abyss Jeff had jumped across in the previous chamber, or a totally different one, he had no clue. His eyes dropped to the ground before him, where he noticed a checker board pattern of tiles, each about two feet in width. The tiles were vibrantly colored: red, blue, green and yellow, seemingly scattered in a random pattern. His gaming senses tingling, Jeff realized the layout before him resembled something like a classic puzzle test. Casting his gaze around the chamber again, his eyes were drawn to a series of dark slits, interspersed around the top of the cavern walls, similar in design to medieval murder holes. At the tunnels mouth, a row of four differently colored tiles lay before him. Stretching out beyond that, as the semi-circular space widened were more rows, their complexity increasing with each step towards the abyss. The tiles in each row grew in number, from six to eight, then ten, culminating in a final row of twelve along the lip of the precipice. Jeff tapped the edge of the red tile directly in front of him, before leaping backwards into the tunnel. Just in time too, as a crimson colored laser beam erupted from one of the ceiling slits, incinerating the surface of the tile and scorching the tip of his boot. Jeff similarly tested the green tile, leaping back hastily. Once more, his prudence paid off as a emerald hued bolt of energy flashed from a ceiling slit, burning through the tile and blackening the surrounding stones. Tapping the yellow tile triggered a blinding torrent of golden fire from another slot, which vaporized the tile and surrounding area Jeff had just vacated. Jeff reached out to tap the blue square. Nothing happened. Blue, it seemed, was the safe color. Unfortunately, the blue tiles were in tragically short supply. Mapping out the mosaic of colored tiles before him, Jeff counted only four blue tiles scattered randomly across the forty tiles that completed the semicircle.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Each row contained a single blue tile, each awkwardly positioned: directly ahead in the first row, far right in the second, dead center in the third, far left in the fourth, and again far right in the fifth. Peering beyond the abyss, Jeff could just about make out the location of the first blue tile on the other side of the divide; right in the middle of the row. The details of the rest were unclearhe realized he would have to map out the location of the blue tiles on the other side of the gap as he got closer. An off-the-wall thought occurred to him as he was staring down at the tiles. What if he was looking at this all wrong? It seemed highly likely that any attempt to cross the tiles on foot could result in death, or at least serious injury. This is like one of those old adventure games, with multiple ways to complete the same level. Sometimes the obvious route is a trap Jeff shifted his gaze upwards, towards the ceiling, and examined the lamps swaying back and forth in the perpetual gale. The lamps dangled from a series of metallic chains, hanging down from the ceiling to a height roughly about fifteen feet above Jeffs head. Before entering this insane Tournament, Jeff would never have entertained the idea of jumping that high over such a wide abyss, but now, physically boosted, it seemed less far-fetched. It was a plana daunting, perhaps suicidal one, but a plan nonetheless. He retreated back down the tunnel and limbered up. Then, wasting no time, he sprinted back towards the chamber at full speed. Launching himself forward from the first blue square, he soared over the deadly row of red, green and yellow tiles below, landing on the next blue tile with both feet. Using his forward momentum to propel himself upwards, he shot himself back into the air with explosive force. Congratulations! Your Jump Skill has now reached Level 4 His grasping fingers closed around the base of the first oil lamp hanging from the ceiling. For a moment he hung there, swaying in the perpetual wind, then he began to rock backwards and forwards, using his bodys weight to swing the heavy iron chain in the direction of the next lamp, around ten feet across the cavern. Once hed gotten enough momentum going, he released his grip, sailing through the air like a circus trapeze artist to catch hold of the next lamp in the series. He repeated this process one more time until he found himself hanging from the the lamp directly over the chasm that divided the chamber. Steadying himself, Jeff risked a glance downwards into the gulf below. What he saw almost caused him to lose his grip on the lamp. Bones. Some tarnished armor and rusty equipment, but mostly bones. A massive river of piled up bleached skulls, spinal columns, femurs, and other unidentifiable skeletal remains, some humanoid, others alien, spread out below him. Jeff stared numbly down at the horrifying spectacle. Finally, after several long seconds, he roused himself; charting a safe path across the treacherous mosaic of tiles below, he again swung forwards and back, in a pendulum like motion, before letting go and flying towards the next lamp in the line. Jeff continued jumping from chain to chain, swinging across the deadly red, green and yellow tiles, building up momentum before letting go and finally touching down on a safe blue tile. From there, he was able to hop scotch his way to the next beckoning tunnel. You have passed a System generated test Reward: One Omega Energy Point Reward: Five Free Attribute Points Your Cognition Attribute has risen by 1 Your Speed Attribute has risen by 1 Your Vitality Attribute has risen by 1 Your Endurance Attribute has risen by 1 Jeff stepped through a doorway at the end of the tunnel, his eyes slowly adjusted to the dim lighting to be met with an unexpected sight. Not another cave or tunnel system, as he had expected. Instead, he stood on a darkened field of some kind stretching forwards into a gloomy distance, illuminated by sparse ghostly lights hanging overhead, interspersed between patches of inky blackness. Due to the low level of light, Jeff could not work out if he was in an enclosed space or indoors, if the gloam overhead was a ceiling or a sky. The twinkling lights above could be stars, or they might equally be some type of artificial illumination. One thing was clear, the overpowering aura of Death hung over this place. A large battlefield spread out before himthe signs of war all around. Corpses littered the blood soaked ground, some creatures resembling carrion crows picking at their flesh. A fell wind picked up, blowing the smell of rotting flesh and decomposition into his nostrils, causing his nose to wrinkle with distaste. Stepping forward, Jeff noted one unexpected boon amidst the bleak landscapethe air around Jeff was particularly rich with raw mana, meaning he would be able to make plentiful use of his Skills without worrying too much about the usual constraints. Jeffs attention flashed to his HUD as the mini-map glowed to life, indicating that the dungeon exit lay some eight hundred meters east of his position. Equipping his newly looted Janissary Long Sword, he moved forward, the feel of Leechs hilt in his hand giving him some comfort in the grim environment. It wasn''t long before Jeff encountered his first dungeon mob. A rotting corpse that had been prostrate on the mud-streaked ground suddenly lurched into a semblance of life, rearing up in his path. A fucking zombie! Jeff groaned internally. He had thought this shit-show of a Tournament couldnt get any weirder. Big mistake The creature, an undead Kobol according to [Identify], brandished a large double-headed battle axe with practiced ease, its other hand gripping a round, battered leather shield. RACE: Kobol (Undead Husk), Grade I HIT POINTS (HP): 50/50 MANA POINTS (MP): 10/10 REWARD: 10 Coins The Kobol species, humanoid in form, are to be found populating countless planets across the System universe. Renowned for their formidable combat skills, these fearsome fighters are often employed as personal bodyguards or mercenaries within elite fighting units. This Kobol has been deceased for some time. Its current reanimated husk state is due to the application of Necrotic Energy. Despite its decaying and gruesome appearance, the dungeon dweller reeked of lethal intent. Holding Leech with a firm grip, Jeff stepped forward, bracing himself to meet the approaching monstrosity. He noted with a shudder of distaste the revolting sight of maggots writhing in its empty eye sockets and the ooze of putrefaction dripping from its ragged form. Man the hell up, you goddam pussy, he told himself sternly, attempting to still the shivers that plagued him at the sight of the rotting corpse. The husk''s advanced state of decay did little to hinder its movements, unfortunately. The Kobol hoisted its battle axe high above its head, quickening its advance. As it closed in on him, it swung the axe downward with uncanny speed, aiming a deadly blow towards Jeffs head. Jeffs reflexes kicked in as he deflected the blow with the flat of his sword, the axes head skittering down the length of his blade and kicking a shower of sparks off Leechs cross-guard. Using the momentum from the deflection, Jeff executed a 360-degree spin on the ball of his foot. In one smooth motion he plunged the sharp point of his longsword into the undead assailant. Have some of that, you asshole Jeff continued pushing forward, completely running the zombified Kobol through. To his astonishment, despite pushing his sword hilt-deep into its chest, it had absolutely no effect on the creature. It leered at him, pushing forward against Leechs cross-guard, its hideous face perilously close to his own. The Janissary long sword, twitched in his grip, grumbling. Through his growing affinity with the blade, Jeff felt Leech signal its distaste for this type of enemy. The zombie, meanwhile, completely unfazed by the impalement, raised its axe aloft once moreits movements still unnaturally swift considering its state of decay. With a brutal chopping motion, the Kobol aimed for Jeff again, forcing him to hastily withdraw his sword and move back a step, narrowly dodging the lethal arc of the axe. He retreated a couple more steps, then lashed out with a swift horizontal sweep, aiming for its axe arm. Jeffs attempt to gain the upper hand failed, the zombie, moving with preternatural speed, deftly blocked his strike with its round shield. An eerie, grotesque smile stretched across the undead creatures face, almost as if it was enjoying itself. As Jeff watched in horror, he realized that the rictus grin was actually caused by a large rat, nestled in the Kobols mouth, which had chosen that moment to vacate the premises. The rat pushed the zombies jaw open fully and departed, scurrying down the undeads shoulder and fleeing across the battlefield, squeaking. Chapter Twenty-Eight鈥擹ombie Playbook To make matters even worse, Jeffs predicament intensified as two more of the nearby corpses dotting the battlefield, previously motionless on the muddy ground, began to stir. Lurching to their feet, clumsily at first then with increasing speed and alertness, they came to life. The pair of reanimated corpses each grasped rust-encrusted scimitars in their skeletal hands. The lead zombie halted abruptly, a sinister dark nimbus enveloping its heada sign that a Skill was activating. Suddenly it exhaled a dense, black fog, engulfing the whole area in a thick cloud of putrid, choking smoke. Immersed in the cloud, Jeff struggled for breath, his eyes stinging and watering, his vision obscured. Coughing and wheezing, Jeff could just about make out another three Kobols approaching through the fog, unaffected by their fellows toxic plume. Poisonous Debuff. -30% to Strength, Speed, Vitality 30 seconds remaining Jeff coughed and sneezed, blinking furiously to clear the smoke from his eyes. He realized it was time to switch tactics. Concentrating intently, he funneled mana into his left hand for a moment, feeling the energy level build up. Then, with a targeted aim, he unleashed his newly acquired Skill, [Mana Burst], directing a blast of the Skills generic brand of destructive energy towards the axe-wielding undead. The bolt of fiery blue mana shot across the gap and hit the zombie in the chest, detonating on impact. The explosion tore through the creature, leaving a gaping crater in its midsection, completely exposing the hollow cavity within. It was a devastating wound which would have been undoubtedly fatal to any living creature. Yet, in spite of the horrific injury inflicted by the Skill, the zombie seemed unaffected, continuing its inexorable advance. By now, all three Kobols were converging on Jeff, and behind them in the murky background, he could see even more rising to their feet and heading his way. Jeff found himself forced to continuously parry and block a barrage of blows from the creatures. Two closed ina high swing of an axe came from one, while a cross swing of a sword came from the other. Their attacks kept on coming, ferocious and unrelenting, leaving him little room to counterattack. He was being overrun, and no matter how quickly he parried and grappled, more of the undead kept on coming. Activating [Cutting Edge], the enhanced sharpness that the Skill granted finally allowed Jeff some moderate success in whittling down the ranks of the zombies in front of him. With a sideways slash he brought Leech sweeping around, slicing off a raised arm. Another chop carved off an entire shoulder. Despite these injuries, the zombies remained standing, even though some of them were starting to resemble the leftovers of a Thanksgiving dinner. The solution to his zombie problem was revealed when he got inside the guard of one of his attackers and managed to chop off its head. The Kobol abruptly stopped moving, dropping into the mud like a marionette whose strings had been cut. A dark, foul smelling mist rose from the corpse, hovering for a moment over the body before coagulating into a small black bead which fell to the floor. A moment of clarity dawned on Jeff, the age-old rule when confronting the undead. Why didnt I think of that earlier? Always aim for the head of a zombie He was rewarded with a System notification. Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 3This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. You have Used Your Cutting Edge Skill to Slay an Enemy Reward: 1 Omega Energy Point You have Successfully Killed a Kobol (Undead Husk), Grade I Reward: 10 Omega Energy Points Dungeon Drop Available Too preoccupied with the relentless swarm of zombies to decipher the meaning of the latter part of the message, Jeff continued deftly parrying the attacks of the remaining undead horde. He thanked his lucky stars that they were strategically unintelligent; rather than attacking en masse they tended to get in each others way, almost queueing up in a disorderly fashion to take turns fighting him. Jeff seized the moment and feinted, prompting the shambling mob of undead husks to shift in unison to one sidealthough they were reasonably fast they were not agile and seemed to operate on a collective, almost hive-minded level. Jeff took advantage of this flaw and quickly maneuvered around their flank. Pouring every ounce of his power and focus into his [Cutting Edge] imbued blade, he managed to decapitate three more zombies in a fluid, sweeping arc. Again he was rewarded with System notifications, and the bodies of the zombies hit the dirt, black mist again floating over the battlefield briefly before condensing into the same dark gemstones he had seen earlier. Combo! You have killed 3 Kobol (Undead Husk), Grade I Reward: 40 Omega Energy Points Dungeon Drops Available Congratulations. You have reached Level 6 Jeff had a brief moment of respite to examine the scene. Glancing down at the ground, he noticed the ebony colored, oval beads scattered about in the mud at his feetremnants of the defeated zombies. Dungeon Drops? He mused, curious to examine the items in more depth. First though, he turned his attention to wiping out the remaining Kobols, methodically grinding through the few left standing. Dodge, feint, slash, the process got easier the more he practiced it. Pretty soon, he was done. Congratulations. You have reached Level 11 Breathing heavily, Jeff, his mind flashing to old zombie movies where characters often turned undead after a bite or scratch, took a moment to quickly check himself for any wounds. He surveyed the battlefield ahead, recalling that during the fight the husks remained dormant on the ground until he drew near, which had alleviated some of the pressure. There were no injuries or bites on his body, but his brand new clothes were now filthysmeared with mud and the revolting black juices of the zombies. He swiftly de-equipped his armor, tunic, doublet and pants, standing momentarily exposed in just his undergarments, before immediately re-equipping them. He had discovered that this simple but efficient method was the Systems equivalent of dry-cleaningeffortlessly removing all of the mud and gore from the clothing. Clean again, he took a moment to survey the battlefield before proceeding. Out of curiosity, he bent down to pick up one of the glossy black dungeon drops which had fallen when he took out the Undead Husks. The object was a flat oval stone, its surface sleek and reflective like polished plastic, but it had a surprising weight to it. Lazily drifting within the black depths of the stone, Jeff could just make out faint, bluish sparks. Casting [Identify] revealed more information. Necrotic Energy Dungeon Drop, 5 Units Necrotic energy? Jeff couldnt recall any mention of it in any of the books he had read in the library. Could this be a solid form of mana? He wondered. He probed the drop with his newfound senses. As he stared down at the mysterious black stone, he somehow activated it, the drop undergoing a state-changethe previously solid stone morphing into a gelatinous blob of shimmering black and blue liquid in an instant, glinting mysteriously in the palm of his hand. Seizing the moment before the concentration of energy could revert still further into a gaseous form and dissipate into the air, Jeff focused intently on his internal pathways, attempting to absorb the potent liquid into his body. But as the Necrotic energy flowed into him, a disturbing change occurred. His hand and arm were overtaken by a ghastly, sickly hue, as if the life was being sapped from his flesh. Nausea washed over him and Jeff barely resisted the urge to throw up. The debilitating sensation was at once both physical and metaphysicala wave of malaise and corruption, spreading up from his arm to the rest of his body. As the noxious feeling of toxicity spread, it felt as if the vitality was being sucked out of his body and spirit. Panic surged within Jeff as he realized the terrible mistake he had made. He desperately struggled to reverse the process and expel the toxic Necrotic energypushing it back out in the same way he had drawn it into no avail. It seemed to have taken on a perverse life of its own. The marauding Necrons, acting as though they were some form of parasitic entity, relentlessly spread through his pathways, seeking out and attempting to subsume every cell in his body, like some cancerous invader. Jeff desperately racked his brains to think of a way to expel the deathly energy. Shifting focus, he harnessed his [Mana Burst] Skill, seeking to flush the poison through an outpouring of raw energy. The Skill stuttered, faltering under the straina cloudy, unstable concoction of destructive neon blue energy, shot through with tendrils of insidious Necrotic energy sputtered from his fingertips. The orb of unstable mana formed briefly above his hand before fizzling out. The feeling of nausea sweeping over him intensified and his stomach churned violently again. Jeff clutched his abdomen in agony. Warning! You have been poisoned. The grim System message was stating the obvious. Belatedly, Jeff remembered a precautionary reference he had read in one of the reference books in the librarysomething about all the different types of composite mana and the advanced protocols a cultivator should have in place to safely store and process them in their Core Space. The further the poisonous Necrotic energy spread around his pathways and through his entire body, he faster he could feel his Vitality ebbing away, his HP diminishing in a steady, inexorable decline. As the poison spread, the rate of decline accelerated still further. Collapsing to the ground, his breathing labored, Jeff desperately looked inwards to his Core Space and was horrified by what he saw. The once vibrant reservoir of raw mana was quickly becoming tainted as the Necrotic energy cycled through his pathways. The liquid mana pool in his core was no longer its usual deep cerulean blue in color; the reservoir had begun to steadily darken to an unhealthy shade of greyeven the cavern walls surrounding the pool had begun to take on a dark, Necrotic tinge. Externally too, Jeff was undergoing a terrifying metamorphosis. As the Necrotic energy took hold, a sickly pallor had begun spreading up his right arm and was by now affecting his entire body. His features had taken on a grayish, lifeless hue, frighteningly similar to that of the undead husks he had just defeated. Another System message flashed as Jeffs vision started to fade. Warning! Your health is extremely low at 5%. Death/Undeath is imminent. Chapter Twenty-Nine鈥擠ining with The Bone Baron As his consciousness began to slip away and his vision darkened, Jeff desperately tried to remember what he had read in that book in the librarysomething about composite and advanced forms of mana, and how high-Grade cultivators could safely store and make use of them. The details eluded him no matter how hard he tried to recall them. Diving into the depths of his Core one last time, with a herculean effort, he desperately made a last ditch attempt to directly manipulate the mana in the pool. At first, his efforts seemed in vain, but then, just when he was about to admit that all hope was lost, he felt something. A response, as if a muscle or ability he hadnt known he possessed had suddenly activated. As the malevolent Necrotic energy continued circulating through his pathways, Jeffthrough an application of pure willpowerissued an unspoken command. At first sluggishly, then with increasing speed, his meridians began to shift and change. A strange sensation passed through every cell of his body, one akin to teeth revolving on a cog, meshing and turning some inner mechanism, or the gears of a safe clicking into alignment. Jeff felt a new-found ability unlock inside of him. He had somehow managed to recode the inner workings of his Core Space. This reprogramming birthed a slender, membranous ring on the periphery of the pool, flowing contrariwise from the main gyre. The newly-created metaphysical structure acted as a sieve, designed to filter and sort all of the streams of mana pouring into the pool through his pathways. As the continuous flow of mana cycled into and through the pool in his core, the mechanism he had intuitively crafted began to perform its function. First, the toxic Necrotic energy was meticulously diverted, filtered out of the main flow. Then it became effectively quarantined in the pools newly crafted outer ring. This breakthrough marked a turning point. The Necrotic energy which had permeated the pathways and cells of his body was drawn out and trapped in the outer ring of the pool, and his HP began to rise of its own accord. The deathly pallor that had overtaken his skin gradually receded. Meanwhile, the confined ring of Necrotic energy lay dormant within his Core Space. The dark energy spun slowly and perpetually around the edge of the pool, separate from, and not interacting with the rest of his unaspected, neutral mana. Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 12 After his near-death experience, Jeff found himself in a state of utter exhaustion, his physical and mental energies sapped. He was also extremely pissed with himself for so recklessly endangering his life by messing with Necrotic energy, a substance he still did not fully understand. He had gotten luckythis time. But he knew from his conversations with Misty and his long study sessions in the library that he had achieved something significanta breakthrough in Cultivation and mana manipulationa feat rarely achieved by players at his Grade. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself, resolving to be more cautious in future. Toggling his ring, he reached into his inventory and pulled out a Potion of Healing. Slurping it down, Jeff managed to push his HP back up to a safer level, giving him the energy to carry on. For good measure, he allocated the five free attribute points he had been awarded earlier to Vitality, feeling an instant boost. Cautiously, Jeff stooped down, his fingers gingerly picking up the other concentrated Necrotic energy dungeon drops scattered in the mud around him. Necrotic energysome composite of Death and Obedience, or perhaps Coercion? It seemed almost to have a life of its own. Was this how the corpses were controlled? He did not recall reading of a form of mana that exactly matched the description. He quickly placed each one of the drops into his ring storage, for further study later. Jeff continued on. Now that he had figured out the predictable movement patterns of the Kobols, he made short work of shredding the remaining undead scattered across the battlefield in front of him. His strategya deceptive feint to one side, followed by a swift flanking maneuver and a decisive beheadingworked every time. He became adept at corralling the Undead Husks together, forming thickly bunched groups, ready for decapitating with his [Cutting Edge] skill. Methodically he plowed his way across the battlefield, only stopping to retrieve the shiny black dungeon drops as they fell. Finally, Jeff arrived at the battlefields far end, where an ancient barrow-like structure loomed ominously. A gash in its rough stony exterior presented a single entrance which beckoned him forward. As Jeff cautiously ducked down to pass through the low doorway, he had to brush away cobwebs that clung to his face. Stepping inside the barrow and down some steps, he discovered a grand, elongated throne room, with a distinctly antiquated, almost medieval air to it. The torch-lit walls were draped with faded tapestries depicting ancient battles between alien species, alongside coats of arms bearing fantastical, heraldic devices. Dominating the space was a majestic banquet table, stretching from one end of the room to the other. Seated around the long table were the skeletal remains of a company of knights, still clad in rusting armor. The long-dead warriors, now skeletons, looked like they had all met their end while taking part in a lavish feast. The remnants of what must have been a sumptuous spread now lay moldering on ornate golden plates, while finely wrought crystal goblets, their contents now merely dust, lay scattered haphazardly across the table. Making his way warily past the immobile skeletal diners, Jeffs steps echoed through the dust-laden hall as he marched across the flagstones to the far end. There, a massive throne, which appeared to be constructed from solid gold, rested on a raised dais. As he approached the end of the room, an intimidating figure seated on the throne stirred. Fully nine-foot tall, the gianta blue skinned colossus with a skull-like facewas clad in fine ebony armor intricately detailed with neat gold filigree, over which it wore a long cowled cloak. Clutched in one skeletal hand was a scythe of truly massive proportions, its black, iron blade glinting in the torch light. DUNGEON BOSS: Urstap Vongolay (A.K.A The Bone-Baron) Grade: I HIT POINTS (HP): 50/50 MANA POINTS (MP): 50/50 REWARD: 100 Coins That time hath cometh again, so soon? Whispered the skeletal figure in a querulous, doom laden voice. His cadaverous visage lifted slowly, the eye sockets, full of what Jeff now recognized as pure Necrotic energy, glowering at him balefully from the throne. Once more, my deathly brigade, arise once more, murmured the Bone Baron, his voice a ghostly murmur. Raising his cloaked arms and pointing his crooked fingers, he activated a Skill, unleashing twin torrents of what Jeff recognized as Necrotic energy. Not aimed at Jeff as he initially assumed, but at the gathering of assembled skeletons around the banquet table. With [Mana Essence] active, Jeff was able to clearly see the streamers of dark Necrotic energy twist through the air, snaking around the hall, tendril-like. The black tendrils, which contained firefly sparks of blue energy, threaded through the skeletal forms of the knights, weaving through clavicles, rib cages and jaws, momentarily caressing their spinal columns and skulls before slithering onward to the next figure.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Awake! Return ye from the valley of death. Slumber no more! Yours not to reason why, yours just to make Jeff die The Bone Baron cackled, a maniacal, gleeful note entering his previously gloomy voice. The chamber was soon echoing with an unearthly groaning chorus as the skeleton knights stirred, answering the Bone Barons call. Their eye sockets began to glow with that same dark, blue-tinged light as they were brought back to a semblance of life by the sinister power of the Necrotic energy. Once fully reanimated they rose from their seatsbones clinking and rattlingknocking over plates and goblets as they stood. Oh shit Jeff mumbled, taking a defensive stance as he watched the armor-clad skeletons form into a neat, well-ordered phalanx in front of him, creating an impenetrable wall of bone and steel, blocking any avenue of retreat. Not waiting for the inevitable attack, Jeff slammed into the front row of knights, sword a blur as he struck multiple blows. Each powerful strike struck its intended target, shattering bone and sending pieces of tarnished armor flying. Yet no matter how hard he swung, or how well he sliced through the assembled skeletal horde, they reformed, the insidious Necrotic energy which swirled around their bones pulling them back together as quickly as Jeff dismantled them. Leech once again complained subliminally through their link, not liking the lifeless taste of these enemies either. Three of the skeletal figures lunged at him simultaneously, their swords descending in perfect unison towards his head. Jeff barely managed to parry all three scimitars, straining with all his strength to hold back their advance. Adapting his tactics on the fly, Jeff equipped his new steel bladed gauntlets and powered them up with [Mana Burst]. Spotting an opening, he ducked under a lethal swing and launched a ferocious punch into the ribcage of the nearest knight. Boom! His mana empowered, glowing mailed fist impacted with the knights armor and sheered straight through. The impact was thunderous, echoing through the hall. The knight literally exploded, a cascade of bone shards showering across the table behind it. The disjointed remains of the skeleton collapsed to the floor, reduced to a pile of bones and rusty armor. Congratulations! Your Combat Proficiency Skill has now reached Level 4 You have been awarded a new Sub-Skill: [Knockout Punch] Level 1 KO an opponent with a single blow. Your fist is inexorable. Unstoppable. Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 13 You have successfully used your Mana Burst Skill to slay an enemy! Reward One Omega Energy Point You have killed a Skeletal Knight, Grade I Reward: Ten Omega Energy Points Another group of knights advanced, their armor clattering as they swung their swords in synchronized arcs. Jeff blocked all their strikes with Leech, then countered with a surprisingly effective [Infinite Sword] riposte. The Skill sent a wave of sundering energy tearing through the air, momentarily shaking the Skeletal Knights and loosening the magical bonds holding their boney forms together. Jeff seized the moment, surging forward to land a flurry of blows with his [Mana Burst] enhanced gauntlets, laying into the knights before they had a chance to fully reform. The three knights detonated one after the other, their bones crumbling and spreading across the floor. You have killed a Skeletal Knight, Grade I Reward: 10 Omega Energy Points You have killed 2 Skeletal Knights, Grade I Reward: 25 Omega Energy Points Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 16 Jeff swiftly yanked one of the tapestries off the wall, its ancient threads releasing a cloud of dust as it fell on to two more advancing skeletal knights. The heavy length of richly embroidered cloth completely covered the pair, tangling them up in its crusty fabric. While they were immobilized, Jeff stepped in and used the twitching pile of cloth like an impromptu punch bag, battering the trapped knights repeatedly with his powered-up, gauntlet-clad fists, neon sparks of mana shooting out each time he landed a blow. The two reanimated corpses soon gave up the ghost, collapsing inside their restraining tapestry, a literal bag of bones. You have killed 2 Skeletal Knights, Grade I Reward: 20 Omega Energy Point Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 17 With increased confidence, Jeff ran circuits around the hall, softening up the remaining knights with a combination of Skill enhanced sword strokes, followed with devastating puncheshis gauntlets by this stage were strobing with rhythmic pulses of brilliant blue as he learned to improve the flow of the destructive mana. After some trial and error with various tactics, Jeff discovered a killer combo. Executing a knife-hand strikea good old fashioned karate chopat a vulnerable point in a knights armor with [Cutting Edge], whilst at the same time pushing max mana through the gauntlets proved to be particularly effective. The Necrotic energy which glued the dungeon mobs skeletal forms together was instantly nullified. By the end, Jeff was almost beginning to enjoy himself, falling into the rhythm of the battle. Each fatal blow sent a visceral rush through him, an intoxicating, toxic blend of adrenaline and rage-fueled power. The System notifications pinged in rapid succession, intensifying the surge of satisfaction as he racked up critical hits. He underwent a subtle transformationa reddish glow flickered in his eyes, and a feral smile curled his lips as he plowed through the antagonists before him, seeming to feed off the carnage. He felt ita coiled charge building up in him with each knight he destroyed. Instinctively, he knew somehow that he was near to completing another of the tests laid down by the Systemthe Rage Warrior tribulation. He welcomed the sensation, letting the unrelenting battle rage take hold. Each successful strike fueled the tally, pushing him closer and closer to the tipping point, and then System Challenge: Eight becomes OneBreak the Chains of Fate Complete 4 More Tribulations to Rewrite Your Path (Rage Warrior) 3/7 Complete Once again, time froze and he was immersed in a System-generated vision. The Rage Warrior version of Jeff stood facing an armed host on a shadowy battlefield. The antagonistsunclear silhouettes against a dim, twilight shrouded backdropwere almost inconsequential. The focus of the vision was firmly fixed on the figure of berserker-Jeff. With an earth-shattering roar that resonated with a brutal, primal ferocity, he charged headlong into the melee. Smashing through the army like a force of nature, the Rage Warrior was unstoppable. Disdaining to deploy any sort of weapon, he instead used his massive, club-like fists to break through the enemy ranks. Each furious swing of his arms shattered swathes of his opponents, like a twister blowing through a field of wheat. Rending his enemies limb from limb, that weird red light began to blaze forth from his eyes, casting a strange glow across the battlefield. Back in the hall, the cherry on top came when he deployed [Infinite Sword] to take out two of the last remaining knights, and received several more System notifications, including one he had been waiting some time for. Skill Upgrade: [Infinite Sword] Congratulations! Your [Infinite Sword] Skill has now reached Level 2 You have been awarded a new Sub-Skill: [Blade Storm] The Area of Effect has now increased five-fold and there is a 10% chance of causing critical damage to an enemy. Damage up to six foes at once. Finally, Jeff had dealt with all of the Skeleton Knightsnothing remaining but random bits of rusty armor and a shit ton of bleached white bones, strewn across the dusty floor of the great hall. Jeff stood panting amidst the devastation, savoring the victory, when a sudden movement from the raised dais snapped his attention back to the throne room. Behold, I am become death, destroyer of Jeff! The Bone Baron screeched in rage, his voice echoing through the hall, rising to his full towering height. Descending from his golden throne with ominous grace despite his massive stature, the dungeon boss was a chilling spectacle. The Baron advanced down the steps leading to the dais and marched menacingly across the hall, his black metallic scythe igniting sparks on the flagstones with each step as he dragged it behind him. The true size of the creature became more apparent, occluding the dim lamplight behind him. Jeff felt his confidence evaporating. During a previous conversation, Misty had outlined the mechanics of dungeons: mini-bosses and dungeon bosses were formidable fighters, System-generated reincarnations of real beings renowned for their combat ability. These System-generated avatars were not mere NPCs, they were copies of their originalsshadows of their full-fledged counterparts. Although their power was diluted, it remained formidable. They were still a force to be reckoned with, and Misty had warned him not to take them lightly. Gird your loins Jeff told himself, wondering briefly about the etymology of the phrase before snapping back into focus. Jeff decided it was a bad idea to wait for the boss to get within striking distance with his wicked looking scythe. Preemptively, he launched a fireball with [Mana Burst], aiming directly at the advancing boss. The blast struck the Baron full on, punching into the center of his broad, cloak-clad form. The attack however, had little effect, merely burning off his voluminous black cloak to reveal his full armored form. The Baron, unfazed and sneering, continued his advance towards Jeff. The giant suit of armor that covered the dungeon boss from head to foot was a wonder to behold. Every inch of plate, from the flared pauldrons on the shoulders to the barbed greaves and wickedly pointed sabatons on his huge feet was designed to protect as well as intimidate. But it was the breastplate that held Jeffs attention. Engraved upon it was a complex blue rune, pulsing with a dark, sinister energy, which sent a primal shudder down Jeffs spine when he glanced at it. [Mana Essence] kicked in, delivering fresh insight, and he knew instinctively that the fractal pattern was a runic representation of the Necrotic energy he had recently encountered back on the darkened battlefield, which had brought him to the brink of death before he narrowly subdued it. As the ominous rune throbbed and pulsed darkly, he felt a resonance with the Necrotic energy trapped, spinning inertly (for now) around the pool in his Core Space. Scuttling backwards to give himself a bit more time, Jeff launched another fireball at the Baron, this time at his head, the only part not covered by his dark armor. The orb struck him full in the facea direct hit, and this time there was a noticeable effect. The Barons skull-like head was stripped clean, the blast searing away the cyan skin which had previously stretched over his gaunt features. The Baron raised his head and grinned maliciously at Jeff, a monstrous sight. A deathly skeleton, the grim reaper personified, and he was almost on top of Jeff. The Barons health bar was completely unaffected by Jeffs attack, his HP remained at 50. Thanks for the facial, maggot Heres your reward! With monstrous strength, the Bone Baron hoisted his massive scythe two handed, the blade arcing through the air, and brought it slicing down diagonally towards Jeff. Jeff barely parried the blow, the scythe had been swung with such horrific power. Attempting to riposte, his sword clanged hollowly against the black armor, failing to find an entry point despite his use of [Cutting Edge]. The Baron straightened, his eye sockets glowing ominously again, indicating a Skill powering up. Abruptly, his boney jaw unhinged and he screamed at Jeff, Aaarghh! simultaneously releasing a billowing dense cloud of thick black gas out of his mouth, which completely enveloped Jeff. Similar to the Skill unleashed by the Kobol zombies but ten times denser, the noxious fumes suffocated him, and he felt once again Necrotic energy attempting to invade his body through his skin, the marauding particles poking at his ears and mouth. Whats more, amidst the choking fog, Jeff felt a strange malaise creeping over him, sapping his will to fight. His resistance began to falter. Leech fell to the floor with a clang as his numb fingers released their grip on its hilt involuntarily. Struggling against the continuous deluge of poisonous gas, Jeff attempted once more to cycle the Necrotic energy invading his body into the newly crafted quarantine ring in his Core Space, but the flood of toxic gas which poured in a continuous stream from the Barons gaping mouth was too much for his pathways to process, and his nascent defenses were overwhelmed. He felt that same, dark sickness again spreading through his cells. Choking and wheezing, he staggered backwards, his legs striking the edge of the banquet table, desperately trying to keep his balance. A system alert flashed urgently. Warning! You have been poisoned. As he stumbled, he caught a glimpse of the Baron through the swirling clouds of gas. Jeffs eye was caught once again by the enigmatic rune embossed on the dungeon bosss breastplate. Suddenly, as the poison started to weaken his body and cloud his mind, he had an idea. Chapter Thirty鈥擳he Antidote From Jeffs studies in the library, he guessed that Necrotic energy was some type of composite, made up of two types of manathe rune appeared to be an amalgamation, resonating with the dual essences of Death and Coercion, or Will. He recalled a crucial piece of lore, something he had read about opposite mana types and their neutralizing effects on each other. Gripping the edge of the banquet table, he struggled to stay upright, his analytical mind working overtime to solve the problem. If he could somehow synthesize the exact opposite types of mana to nullify the effects of the poison, he would have an antidote and a potential weaponan effective countermeasure to use against the Baronseeing as his regular mana bolts had no effect. Death and Coercion, Death and Coercion Jeff racked his memory for their opposites, something to counterbalance them. The antithesis of Death came easilyLifeits rune a familiar one from his studies, but the counterpart to the Coercive element in Necrotic energy proved to be more elusive. Jeff delved into his mental archives, trying to remember the runic sigils he had pored over in the huge tomes last time he was in the library. He had set out to memorize thousands of runes, attempting to emblazon them into his memory. CoercionCoercionWhat was the opposing force?Suddenly it jumped out at him, clear as day. Acuity! Acuity was the perfect opposing mana type to Coercion: a symbol of clarity and insight, the natural enemy of manipulation and control. The rune for Life had seemed to spring fully formed into his mind, so deeply had he memorized those simple, basic shapes. Yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldnt picture the more complex structure that made up the composite fractal rune for Acuity, perhaps because the books he had access to in the library were for mages of a much lower level, and they had touched on advanced composite mana forms only fleetingly. Then, just as he was about to give up, he recalled his momentous Vision during the Initial Class Selection, and the blazing rune he had glimpsed on the forehead of the Steel Mage. This time, the rune filled his minds eyea detailed schematic of the fractal-like, calligraphic sigil. Acuity. Thats it! Now fully equipped with the building blocks, all he had to do was combine the two, somehow merging the pair of mana types, Life and Acuity. His mind focused to a sharp point, envisioning the shape of the twin runes in more detail. Actualizing them. In his minds eye, the two fractal symbols hung suspended, floating lazily side by side, surrounded by a drifting haze of the mana types they represented. Channeling every last ounce of his remaining will, he commanded the pair of runes to merge. The two disparate strands of mana, Life glowing yellow, and Acuity a bright blue, began to flow together, intertwining and merging, like an intricate puzzle snapping in to place, to become something new. Through some inner process even he couldnt quite comprehend, a deep subconscious wellspring opened up within him. The newly forged rune, radiating a vibrant emerald hue, shimmered into existence, fully formed in his mind. Its intricate design flawlessly encapsulating the essence of both Life and Acuity, the perfect synthesis of the two mana types. HP at 5%. Death/Undeath is imminent Once again, Jeff felt his consciousness slipping away as he lost his grip on the table andslumped to the floor. The Baron stood over him, cackling, the thick plume of poisonous Necrotic energy continuously pouring from between his jaw bones, washing over Jeffs prostrate body, now huddled under the banquet table. Jeff rushed inward to his Core Space, and concentrating on the final remaining drops of raw, untainted mana in his pool, with the very last of his energy, summoned the newly forged rune into existence. Slowly at first, then with gathering speed, the silvery outline of the rune began to shimmer into being in his Core Space. Concentrating the full force of his will, Jeff held the newly created rune extant, abiding over the roiling mana pool. The composite rune began to cast a soothing emerald light over the polluted pool and the surrounding cave. Slowly at first then with increasing brilliance, the pure glow from the rune began to dispel the gloomy aura of the Necrotic energy. And the pool responded, beginning to undulate, ripples spreading from the center moving outwards, obeying his indomitable will. Another concentric ring of mana began to form at the circumference of the pool, a glowing, vibrant green in color, the exact opposite of the dark Necrotic energy ring that still circulated there. The two currents moved in time with each otherdual forces diametrically opposed but not mixing or touching. The final step of the process was to use this newly created antidote to clean the excess, unwanted Necrotic energy from his system. Jeff concentrated and pushed the antidote outwards from his core and through his pathways, cleansing himself in the process. The bright green composite mana flowed through his veins, into every cell in his body, like a purifying injection of disinfectant.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Bit by bit, Jeff felt his HP begin to tick back up. Vision clearing, Jeff slowly rose to his feet to face the Bone Baron. Wh..wh..what? What trickery is this? The Baron gaped, the stream of Necrotic energy vomiting from his mouth stuttering to a halt. No tricks. Only treats Jeff quipped, dusting himself off as his HP began to climb rapidly, before unleashing a bolt of the newly crafted composite Life/Acuity mana directly at the Barons head. The fireball, a brilliant emerald in color, shot across the distance between them and hit the boss square on the temple, with an effect which was nothing short of spectacular. As soon as the ball of composite mana struck, the Baron seemed to freeze, the eerie light in his eyes flickering wildly. Then, with a sound like cracking ice, the rune on his breastplate shattered and he was blown backwards and off his feet, scythe clattering on the flagstones. The giant armor clad form lay paralyzed on the floor, twitching and jerking convulsively. Each movement sent showers of green coruscating sparks shooting from his exposed skull and in between gaps in his armor. Wheeeee the Baron made a sound like a tea kettlehis once formidable, badass voice now reduced to a comedic squeakhe tried to speak but was overcome by the effect of the Life/Acuity mana still coursing through his body. Jeff walked cautiously towards the prone figure, kicking the scythe safely out of harms way. A glance at the Barons hovering health bar and stat console confirmed ithis HP was rapidly and inexorably dwindling, the effects of the composite antidote mana relentlessly purging the Necrotic energy from his body, and showing no signs of abating. The dungeon boss glared up at Jeff malevolently. In his eye sockets, flickering remnants of dark energy clung on tenaciously, giving him a chilling, demonic appearance. Reaching down, Jeff grasped the huge scythe by its handle. It felt strangely appropriate somehow, that he finish the Bone Baron off with his own weapon. Assuming a golfing stance, Jeff took a few practice swings before bringing the scythe blade round in one smooth motion, sending the Barons head flying off into a shadowy corner of the hall. Fore! Jeff called out, continuing with the golfing metaphor, chuckling to himself. The usual system rewards and notifications popped up, flooding Jeffs vision, along with a larger than normal torrent of coins. You have killed a Grade I Dungeon Boss Reward: Fifty Omega Energy Points Level up! Congratulations! You have reached Level 33 Congratulations! You have completed Tantalus-East Dungeon. Access to Bone Tempering Bath granted. Exit Dungeon: Y/N? Dungeon will respawn in 0:59:59 The countdown timer for the dungeon respawn began to tick down in the corner of his vision, while a rumbling sound issuing from behind the throne indicated a passage or portal of some kind was opening. Moving quickly, Jeff swept through the hall gathering together as much of the loot as he could from the banquet table, including the silver cutlery and serving dishes, chairs and the table itself. Next he turned his attention to the fallen Skeleton Knights. Methodically he collected their armor and weaponry, before finally looting the Bone Barons scythe and fancy nine foot tall suit of armor. Jeff circled around the imposing dais and peered behind the huge golden throne. A passageway of some kind had opened up in the stone-hewn walls of the barrow, with steps leading downwards to a torch-lit chamber. Jeff cautiously descended the stairs and stepped into the subterranean chamber. Recessed into the flagstones, was what looked like a plunge bath of some kind, filled to the brim with a turbid semi-liquid porridge, almost black in color but containing shining flecks of what looked like mica. Jeff looked closer and saw that the material in the bath was gently moving, ripples constantly spreading across its surface. Another System notification popped up, describing the bath in more detail. ITEM: [Bone Tempering Bath] ITEM TYPE: Resource, non-moveable ITEM CLASS: Peak, Grade G REQUIREMENTS: none EXPANDABLE: n/a DESCRIPTION: Your reward for completing Tantalus-East Dungeon is the use of this Grade G Bone Tempering Bath. This rare resource offers a unique opportunity to reforge your skeletal structure. Complete immersion in the bath for prolonged periods will grant the user stronger, more robust bones, their durability and resilience considerably enhanced. The longer you can endure it, the more benefits you will accrue. Jeff was puzzled by the description, and intriguedhe decided to test the waters. De-equipping his gauntlets, he gingerly dipped the index finger of his left hand into the sluggishly moving substance. Jeff chose that particular finger for a reason. As a child he had fallen off a jungle gym in the park and broken it. Ever since, the digit had been stiffer and occasionally sore in wet weather. The finger barely grazed the baths churning surface, but instant agony flared, propelling him backwards reflexively, gripping his injured hand. Through tear blurred eyes, he looked down and saw that the skin and flesh had been instantly flensed off, starkly exposing the four bones that made up his finger. ArghhhWhat the hell! Jeff exclaimed, staring down in horror at his hand, or what was left of it. But his anger was immediately replaced with amazementthe tissue and skin began visibly healing before his eyes, flesh and sinew weaving together with astonishing speed. Within the space of another five seconds, the finger had totally healed, including a new fingernail sprouting, unfurling from the quick and covering the soft, tender flesh, like some time lapse film on fast forward. Congratulations! Your High Pain Threshold Skill has now reached Level 4 A new System notification appeared. Challenge: Achieve a perfect Iron Body using the Bone Tempering Bath. Bone Tempering Bath Challenge: 0.5% Complete Wonderingly, Jeff flexed the finger. As good as new? No. Even betterThe finger felt stronger, the bone had definitely been repaired and enhanced in some way. Jeff looked again at the pool, then his gaze shifted upwards to the roof of the chamber. The chambers ceiling was a tapestry of runes. Densely decorated panels, each one intricately carved with symbols giving off a soft mana glow covered the roof of the chamber. Jeff put two and two togetherthe bone tempering bath was a crucible forging bones at the expense of tissue, while the runic arrays decorating the ceiling above were designed to repair the collateral damage. Unfortunately the healing arrays did nothing to stop the pain. Resolutely, Jeff stowed his clothing in his ring and, buck naked, made him way towards the steps leading down into the bath. Forty-five minutes later, Jeff lay flopped out on the flagstones by the side of the bath, exhausted. His body was in torment, wracked with pain, as the flesh, sinew and skin of his right arm and leg regrew. Through a series of excruciatingly painful experiments, in which he had dipped the same finger repeatedly into the bath, he had discovered that continued exposure to the strange, bone-tempering material brought ever increasing rewards. After the fifth immersion, the bones of his index finger had taken on a metallic luster indicating maximum density had been achieved. Further dips gained no more enhancementsfive dips of around 20 seconds each were enough to achieve peak hardness. Trying again with another finger, Jeff discovered that if he could bear the pain continuously for just under a minute, the same result could be achieved in one single, torturous submersion. Finally he could do no more, and Jeff halted his experiments. The dungeon was set to respawn soon and he had only managed to complete the bone tempering process on one leg and a part of his right arm up to the elbow. Bone Tempering Bath Challenge: 14% Complete Obviously the next logical step was total submersion. Leaving aside the agony of the process, Jeff was concerned that if he fully entered the bath, he would have difficulty extricating himself from itthe dissolution of his muscles during the process would mean that using his arms or legs to climb out would be impossible, leaving him trapped. He briefly toyed with the idea of anchoring his arms on the baths edge and then somehow pulling himself up after a minute, but the risks of this strategy were too greatif something went wrong, he would be ensnared in the bath without any means of escaping. He did wonder if the dungeon respawn mechanism would transport him out of the bath automatically at the end of the cycle Then he decided on a more scientific approach. Chapter Thirty-one鈥擨ron Body As the dungeon timer ticked down to zero he clicked out of the dungeon and was immediately thrust back into the relentless heat and humidity of Tantalus, facing the dungeon door with the swamp stretching out behind him. Jeff was momentarily disorientateda sense of something wrong nagged at the back of his mind the sun, partially obscured by the perpetual cloud cover still hung low on the horizon, as it had in the morning when he entered the dungeon. With a mental shrug, shaking off the dissonance, he toggled the Tournament Store icon and stepped through the glowing doorway that appeared in the cliff face. Once inside, he immediately began browsing through the catalog. While he was standing at the store counter, Misty made an appearance, bounding up to him, chattering excitedly. She launched into a commentary on his impressive performance and the rewards he had been gifted by his ever increasing fan base. The fan boards are blazing up all across Gloglyhavent you checked your balance? The donations are massive. Its unprecedented in an Outer Fringe sector like this. To my knowledge, no Tournament Contestant from a newly assimilated world has reached your level of cultivation at this stage before. These composite mana storage rings youve crafted in your Core Space are fantastic, Jeff. Its a real achievement of at your level. That degree of mana manipulation its incredible, revolutionary. Most cultivators dont come close until they hit Grade F, at least Mistys voice took on a different tone. Jeff, how are you able to do this? How are you able to process Necrotic energy in your Core? A note of suspicion impinging into her voice along with the excitement. Jeff had been wondering the same thing. Looking back on his near death brush in the dungeon and his intuitive crafting of a solution, he wondered My Path? Some other change made on the ship? Jeffs mind raced as he tried to work out where his advantage came from. Whether it was the early Path choice gifted to him by the Autochs, or something else, he wasnt sure. Mindful of the omnipresent surveillance on him, Jeff struggled to keep his thoughts from appearing on his features. Shrugging his shoulders in mock bewilderment, he plastered a dumb look of incomprehension across his face and pretended not to understand Mistys question. He acknowledged her continued prattling distractedly, and turned his focus back to the Store catalog, navigating the extensive list of goods on display. He eventually found what he was looking for. After making the purchase he wasted no timeexiting the store, Jeff returned to Tantalus. Back at the edges of the swamp, Jeff noticed that a gargantuan flightless bird, easily the height of a giraffe had appeared, and was now standing beneath the cliffs around twenty yards from the dungeon door, its brightly covered plumage a startling contrast against the stark granite rocks. Jeff eyed it warily, but it made no move towards him, preoccupied as it was with a gigantic, metallic-shelled mollusk the size of a dumpster, clutched in its formidable hooked beak. With rhythmic precision, it bashed the huge snail-like creature against a slab of rock jutting out from the cliff face, the repeated clangs echoing in the damp air as it strove to reveal the flesh within. A light drizzle had begun to fall, softening the harsh sunlight. Jeff entered the dungeon once again. This time, he raced through the dark tunnels, leapt across the abyss and swung over the booby-trapped colored squares with ease. He navigated the battlefield with confidence, making short work of the Kobols. Marching across the gloomy field, he didnt pause once. As the reanimated Kobols staggered to their feet and started towards him, he unleashed a quick blast with [Mana Burst], each pulse loaded with the composite antidote to the Necrotic energy. Jeff even found that it was unnecessary to target every single Kobolthe effect rippled out through their ranks, leaping like a contagion, severing the strings of reanimation and causing them to collapse to the ground in lifeless heaps, the effects of the Necrotic energy negated. He continued mob-farming his way through the dim expanse of the battlefield, only pausing briefly to scoop up the glossy black dungeon drops of Necrotic energy as they fell. Level up! Congratulations! You have reached Level 96 Whilst in the store he had briefly asked Boz for an appraisal of the Necrotic energy drops. The robotic store-keeper offered 50 coins for each drop, which amounted to a sizable haul. It turned out that while dungeon drops had some commercial value, they were mostly collected and carried by Tournament Contestants, warriors and adventurers for use as a reservoir of portable mana, like MP charge-ups. Jeff decided that the Necrotic energy drops could be very useful as ammunition in future battles, particularly against any life-attuned enemies he encountered along the way. With this in mind, Jeff decided to collect as many as possible. In double-quick time, Jeff reached the far side of the battlefield and, ducking down, slipped through the entrance of the low slung grave barrow. Once inside, he continued his inexorable forward progressstraight past the Skeleton Knights lying immobile at their banquet tableand up to the throne of the Bone Baron, who was beginning to awaken from his slumber. The time hath cometh intoned the baron sepulchrally, a skeletal finger poised to unleash a stream of reanimating energy at the skeletons around the table.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. No time to chat, sorry Baron interjected Jeff in a cheerful voice, preemptively unleashing his own emerald blast of mana first, striking the Boss square in the chest. The Baron, caught by surprise, attempted to climb to his feet using his scythe as a crutch, like some demonic boomer, but the corrosive effect of Jeffs Life/Acuity bolt had already begun to ravage his dark composite-mana-fueled biology, devastating his pathways and Core. He stumbled and fell, his armored form clattering noisily down the steps of the dais, landing in a heap at Jeffs feet. Jeff grasped the back of the Barons chest plate and lifted the weakly struggling form, hoisting the barely-alive dungeon boss so his gaping jaw rested atop the lip of the first step of the dais. Raising his knee high, he brought his foot crashing down on the back of the barons skull, curb-stomping him. The first stomp landed with a grisly crunching sound, snapping multiple teeth and sending them tinkling across the floor. The Baron groaned feebly, his face a bloody ruin. Jeff raised his foot and brought it hammering down again, even more ferociouslythis time imbuing his attack with [Cutting Edge]. The Barons skull cracked, then shattered into two pieces, neon brain matter spurting across the floor and painting Jeffs bootlaces a vivid blue. Grimacing with distaste, he wiped his boot on the Barons cloak before placing the corpse and scythe in his ring storage. He was momentarily distracted by an obscene torrent of system coins filling his balance, no doubt heavily swollen by his ever growing fan base. He was also awarded with something called an Achievement which was permanently reflected in his stats. Level up! Congratulations! You have reached Level 121 You have killed a Grade I Dungeon Boss Reward: Forty Omega Energy Points Achievement! Brutality Unleashed For dispatching a dungeon boss with exceptional violence Reward: Ten Free Attribute Points Jeff immediately put all the unallocated attribute points towards bolstering his Endurance. He figured he was going to need the boost for the next step of his plan. Brushing aside the System message about respawning or leaving the dungeon, after looting the throne room once again, Jeff made his way around to the the rear of the throne dais. There, the entrance to the bone tempering chamber was revealed. This time, he had come prepared. Jeff had initially thought about somehow repurposing the goblin chainsaw, envisioning a makeshift winch system of some sort, cobbled together from its parts. But, when he saw the vast array of tools and gadgets on offer in the Tournament Store''s catalog, he realized he had been overthinking the problem. After some thought he had finally settled on a robust anchor-winch, the kind especially designed for the decks of large ocean going vessels. With its heavy-duty steel chain and over-engineered build quality, he felt it should be able to withstand the rigors of the bone tempering broth. Gingerly, he dangled a segment of the iron chain into the bath, his muscles straining under its significant weight. Each link of the chain weighed as much as a quarter of a metric ton, and it took his System-augmented strength to lift it. He maintained the submersion for over a minute before heaving the length of chain out of the bath. He was satisfied to see that while heavily corroded, it was still functional and would serve its purpose. Next, Jeff set to work bolting the winch housing to the floor of the chamber some distance from the Bone Tempering Bath. He used a sledgehammer to drive the heavy rivets deep into the flagstone floor. When he was finally satisfied that the device was securely fastened, he took a moment to familiarize himself with the workings of the control panel. Ordinarily he would have been fascinated by the rune boarda mix of tech and magicthe System equivalent of a computer, which served to operate the winch. The glowing touchscreen on the side, flashing with an array of control runes, allowed for a number of different programs to be plugged into the motor. But Jeff was on a mission and didnt have time to get his geek on. Jeff reeled off a substantial length of loose chain from the drum before setting the winch to automatically wind the chain back when the countdown timer had run down to zero. Standing naked on the chill flagstone floor, he fed the winchs rune board a trickle of mana to initiate the timer. Then, grasping the loose length of chain, he securely wrapped it around his torso. Jeff hesitated for a moment, quaking at the thought of the agony to follow. Then he reminded himself what it was all for. Memories of family and friends flashed before his eyes like an old movie montage. His father, now a recluse obsessed with conspiracy theories in his cabin in the Smokey mountains. His mother, no doubt out of her mind with worry right now. His older sister and her two daughters. Sally Images of Earth paraded before his minds eyethe people and everything in it: sunlit meadows and bustling city streets, grinning kids eating ice cream, symphony orchestras and rock bands in full swell. All the best elements of his planet and species. Whether he liked it or not, he was the one responsible. For its salvationor its doom. Taking a few deep breaths to steady himself, he shuffled forwardsbarely able to move with the crushing weight of the chains wrapped around himuntil he reached the edge of the bath and its roiling, ominously seething contents. No pain, no gain he muttered to himself, gallows humor in his tone. Gritting his teeth, he allowed himself to fall forward, plunging headfirst into the thick, turbid grey broth of the bath. Instant agony. The moment Jeffs body splashed below the surface, fire coursed through every nerve ending in his body as his skin was flash-burnt off. Instinctively, Jeff opened his jaws to scream before realizing his mistaketoo late. The corrosive bone tempering broth surged into his open mouth, a merciless, destructive tide that scoured his oral cavity to the bone, cascading down his throat into his belly and dissolving his soft tissues from the inside out. Jeff had never felt pain like it. Thrashing about in torment, he frantically tried to grab for the chain, instantly regretting his plunge into the bath. Thoughts fixed on escape, he fumbled, trying to pull himself out, but the bath had already started its workhis hands, stripped of sensation, could no longer feel the individual links of the chain. All his nerve-endings had been instantly destroyed by the acidic broth, leaving his fingers unable to grasp. Through the white hot blaze of excruciating pain, Jeff yearned for oblivionhe was desperate for the merciful release of unconsciousness, but something kept him awake, kept him alive. In the depths of the pain, a brief flicker of awarenessa realization that the healing arrays embedded in the ceiling were hard at work, countering the baths destructive force and keeping him conscious in the process. Congratulations! Your High Pain Threshold Skill has now reached Level 5,6,7,8,9,10,11. The broth continued its grisly businessstomach, kidneys, liver, and then his heartall systematically erased. The soft fleshy bits between his legsgone. Jeff had squeezed his eyelids shut automatically in some vain attempt to protect his eyes, to no avail. He felt the broth bubbling around his jaw bone and teeth, scouring his cheeks away, sheering through the soft cartilage of his nose, snipping off his ears, nibbling away at his lips. Nothing was left behind, nothing but the stark architecture of his skeletal structure. Jeff felt that the pain could not possibly get any worseuntil the broth burnt through the orbital sockets of his eyes and started eating his brain. The effect was indescribable. As the broth invaded his skull, Jeff lost all sense of time and space. His universe was whittled down to a single pointa spiraling vortex of raw pain. Every second remaining on the timer stretched into an infinity of suffering, the longest minute in the history of minutes. Jeff knew somehow that he had to retain his hold on sanity. The only thing left to him was his personality. His mind. The temptation to fall into a state of deliriumlet slip the last remaining link with realitybeckoned to him. But he knew that that was a one-way road. There was no coming back from that level of madness. Endurehe told himself. Just a few seconds more. Endure. His will reared up and burnt brightly within him, drawing on some deep well spring of resilience he had not known he possessed until now. He rejected the call of madness. And he lived somehow. He continued to exist, despite his brain literally boiling within his cranium. As the broth attacked the individual neural cells in his head, the healing arrays built into the ceiling went into overdrive, burning fiercely as they flooded the chamber with deluges of pure Life mana. Brain death was averted, the runic arrays refusing the bone-tempering bath its final victory over the flesh. The corrosive broth fought to erase his mind, but the arrays countered with precision, reforming the neural pathways as swiftly as they were destroyed. And then, Jeff was reborn. Chapter Thirty-Two鈥擳ime and Tide Six weeks later But how do you come to know so much about me? The Bone Baron interrupted querulously. and why do you keep asking me all these impertinent questions about my childhood? Jeff leaned back in the giant golden throne, peering down dispassionately at the Dungeon Boss, whose massive form was stripped of his armor and safely secured to the banquet table in the great hall. He took a sip from a goblet filled with bone broth, wincing slightly as his lips and tongue were scoured by the acidic brew. He paused a moment to formulate his response. I need to know how you managed to reach Grade H at such a fast pace Jeff replied, ignoring the Barons query. After days of questioning the Baron, or rather this pale avatar of the real Baron, he had come to understand the creature more, and while there was certainly no affection, in some ways, there was respect. What were the conditions on Tanus IV that helped to facilitate your process? What teaching methods and Cultivation techniques did they use at the Academy of Excellence to hothouse your Skill progression? He continued interrogating the Baron a while longer, trying to squeeze the last few bits of intel from him, every scrap of lore, before pondering his next move. A lot had changed for him since he had successfully completed the Bone Tempering Bath Challenge all those (subjective) weeks earlier. He thought back to that moment when he had been hauled out of the agonizing bath by the winch mechanism
Jeff lay flopping like a beached fish, sprawled on the chill flagstones, resembling a partially butchered carcass. His newly forged steel-blue skeletal structure stood out starkly beneath his exposed flesh, the swiftly reforming glossy red muscles and tendons swirling and flowing around the bones. Bone Tempering Bath Challenge: 100% Complete Achievement Unlocked! You have earned the Title: Iron Body Defense Attribute boosted by 5% Wheezing, he sucked a shuddering breath into his freshly grown lungs, his vision slowly returning as his eyes reformed in their sockets. Finally the process was complete; a fresh layer of skin sealing over his now fully fleshed body. The dreadful memory of the pain he had experienced rapidly receding from his consciousness, he drew himself to his feet. Selecting a set of clothes from his storage ring, he dressed himself and prepared to leave the dungeon for good. He figured it was about time to head back to base and check in with Fracta. By his reckoning, he had spent around eight hours since parting with her at the edge of the swamp, running the dungeon twice and completing the Bone Bath Challenge. He planned to get back to the inn by the evening to find out more from Fracta about the conditions in the Dungeon to the west. Emerging from the Dungeon, Jeff found himself once again facing the massive doorway set into the cliffs face. TapTapTap Whirling around, he was surprised to see the same giant flightless bird a short distance away, still swinging the mega-mollusk clutched in its beak against the same stone. The fine drizzle was still falling, and the sun remained in the exact same position, low on the horizon, unchanged from where it had been in the morning when he first entered the dungeon. Realization began to set in. No time had passed at all It seemed that there was some sort of temporal effect at work, altering the flow of time inside the Dungeon. Jeff paused and stood for a moment longer, considering the implications. With growing excitement, he decided to determine exactly how much time was slowed down within the dungeon. Taking out a small timing device he had purchased in the Store, he switched it on and activated the stopwatch function. Leaving the device on a flat topped rock by the door, Jeff then immediately dived back into the dungeon and proceeded to grind his way through it methodically. After taking out the Dungeon boss for a third time he reemerged. Taptaptap the unchanging drizzle, the same watery sunlight, and the timer displayed 00:00:27. Less than half a minute had elapsed on the outside, while Jeff had subjectively experienced around 30 minutes of intense action, rushing through the corridors and grinding through the Kobols, the skeleton knights and the Bone Baron. Jeff stood for a moment in thought, oblivious to the hot drizzle dampening his hair and face. As a result of his experiment, Jeff resolved to radically alter his plans and remain in the vicinity of the Dungeon. After all, seeing he was up against the clock due to the tight window to exit Tantalus, why not use the temporal effects to his advantage to grind some more, running the Dungeon multiple times to level as much as possible? Such a massive amount of time dilation presented him with a unique opportunity, and he knew he would be a fool not to make the most of it. Reluctantly, he shelved his plans to go check on Fracta, at least for the time being. Gotta get stronger Jeff decided to work out a strategy to grind the dungeon to level his Skills and eventually his Grade. He was momentarily tempted to return to the Store to purchase another Skill, but eventually decided against the notion. He had been doing some thinking about it, and it seemed that the System rewarded focus and concentrationexcellence in a single Skill was worth more than being a jack of all trades with several. Although he had the Coinlast he checked his balance was back up to over 4000he reckoned it was better to speed-run the Dungeon as many times as possible, up to the Dungeon cap, to level the Skills he already had. His other priorities were to gather intel, work on his Dao and further improve his mana Cultivation ability. [Cutting Edge] and [Infinite Sword] had both already reached level two so he decided to first prioritize [Mana Burst] by spamming the Skill with an intense session of mob farming. He knew from the Skills marketing material that if he got it to the next level it would award him some variant of a lightning effect, which he hoped would be particularly effective when combined with his newfound mana manipulation ability. He decided to work on his long distance use of the Skill first. Extending his ranged attacks and accuracy was a priority. Returning to the dungeon and making his way quickly through the tunnels and puzzles, he set about reconnoitering the battlefield by methodically working his way across its length and width. He figured out that he was indeed contained inside an enclosed spacea rectangular arena roughly a mile square. The nature of the ceiling above him remained a mystery. At one moment he thought he saw a shooting star flicker across the corner of his vision, indicating that the twinkling lights above were in fact stars, not artificial lights. The perimeters of the room were impenetrable, sealed off not by walls but by zones of darkness bounded with some sort of force field. These barriers became increasingly more difficult to penetrate no matter how hard Jeff tried to push through. The terrain of the battlefield was not, however,completely uniform. A scattering of hillocks and rises offered various vantage points for sniping. After mapping the field of play thoroughly, the first thing Jeff did was sprint around the battlefield, activating as many of the Kobols as possible. By zigzagging across the entire field, deliberately brushing close to the dormant husks, he was able to rouse the entire army of undead in a single sweep. They trailed behind him, moaning plaintively, a macabre procession following sluggishly in his wake. Feinting towards the far right corner of the battlefield, Jeff kited the horde of zombies in that direction, before quickly spinning on his heels and hot footing it the opposite way. While the herd-like gaggle of around 25 Kobols stumbled and tripped over themselves, attempting to change direction and pursue him en-masse, he retreated at speed to a tactically advantageous hillock on the far side of the expanse. This maneuver gave him as much space as possible to practice his ranged sniping with [Mana Burst].Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. First attempts at mastering the Skill were disappointing. Jeff found two major issues with the base Skill; the main problem was that the volleys of mana Jeff fired at individual targets tended to fizzle out uselessly after a hundred yards or so, indicating that the power contained in each shot was limited and quickly dissipated after release. The second issue was with the accuracy of the Skillor lack of. It proved to be hopelessly inadequate at precisely hitting a target at anything other than close range. Remembering the crosshair sight function in his HUD, Jeff toggled it on, and found that while using the overlay, the accuracy of his shots improved by around 25%. He continued practicing for some time, deliberately not deploying his new arsenal of potent Life/Acuity antidote mana. He did not want to reduce the quantity of his targets too quickly. In order to maintain his long distance target practice, Jeff found that inevitably he needed to perform the same herding routine multiple timesthe Kobols eventually all reaching his current position. Before he became overrun by the undead horde, he zipped back across the battlefield to another convenient sniping location. This carried on for some time. Each time he repeated the cycle, Jeff saw small but definite improvements in the long range accuracy of [Mana Burst]. You have cast [Mana Burst]. You have injured a a Kobol (Undead Husk), Grade I. Your Cognition Attribute has risen by 1 Next, he turned his attention to the problem of the velocity and power of each bolt of energy produced by the Skill. Ignoring the Kobols for the time being, he positioned himself cross legged on a small circular Cultivation Mat, a specialty item which he had purchased in the Store for 200 coins. According to Boz and the marketing blurb, the mat was designed to enhance mana circulation around the users pathways and their Core. Jeff settled himself on the intricately inscribed mat, trying to center himself despite the oppressive atmosphere of the battlefield. Concentrating on his breathing, he closed his eyes and focused on sensing the flow of mana through his body. He felt the mat activate beneath him, a subtle pull that seemed to smoothen and speed up the circulation. Jeff activated [Mana Burst], hands resting lightly on his knees in a palms up position, initiating the creation of the usual bolts of mana but deliberately not loosing them. As soon as the spheres of brilliant blue energy formed, he reabsorbed them, sucking the energy back in through the palms of his hands and cycling it through his pathways into his Core. He continued this process over and over for some time, finding that as he did so the pathways seemed to become more fluid, the energy flow more defined. He found with some experimentation that he was able to significantly reduce the size of the glowing balls of energy without diminishing the amount of mana contained within them. These super-condensed sparks of mana glowed with an even more intense light than previously, their intense, actinic glare casting eery shadows across the gloom of the darkened battlefield. Jeff, became so engrossed in the process of cultivation that he failed to pay attention to the looming threat of the Kobols. ClankA trailing battle-ax impacting with a stone was a timely wake-up call. Surging to his feet to face the oncoming Kobols, he acted on pure instinct, loosing the supercharged bolts of mana resting in his palms. Both spheres of mana hit the vanguard Kobol, striking the zombie in the chest so fasteasily ten times faster than his previous shotsthat the effect of the Skill more resembled twin laser beams shooting from his hands than distinct bolts of energy. You have successfully used your Mana Burst Skill to slay an enemy! Reward One Omega Energy Point You have killed a Kobol (Undead Husk), Grade I Reward: 5 Omega Energy Points, 10 Coins Dungeon Drops Available Level up! Congratulations! You have reached Level 189 Momentarily dazzled, Jeff rapidly blinked away the after images of the weapon discharge to see that the Kobol had been totally vanquished by the attack. The dual blasts of destructive mana had cleaved through the entire top half of its body, effectively quartering the creature. Its severed head rolled into a depression, a comical look of surprise written across its grotesque features. Skill Upgrade Available: [Mana Burst] Congratulations! Your Mana Burst Skill has now reached Level 2 Description: Lightning Storm. Ever wanted to shoot lightning from your fingertips and punish crowds that gave you the stink eye? Well now you can. Area-Of-Effect weapon. Causes havoc on up to TEN foes simultaneously. The remaining undead advanced forward, bringing their weapons to bear. Wasting no time, Jeff channeled a stream of Life/Acuity mana from his Core Space through his pathways and activated the newly upgraded Skill, letting loose with Lightning Storm. Brilliant green lightning crackled from his outstretched hands, each jagged emerald flash striking a different Kobol in the group. The first torrent engulfed three of the oncoming zombies, instantly rendering them inert. Another four outliers were hit by chain lightning cascading outwards from the primary targets. These secondary strikes, while not instantly deadly, had the effect of temporarily paralyzing the affected Kobols, effectively removing them from the battle. Mega Combo! You have killed 3 Kobol Undead Husks, Grade I, and Seriously Injured Four More. Reward: 30 Omega Energy Points Dungeon Drops Available Level up! Congratulations! You have reached Level 195 Jeff continued to wield the [Mana Burst] variant, observing the effects on the Kobols. Through focused intent, he was able to guide the primary and secondary streams of lightning, judiciously maneuvering the onward chains to targets of his own choosing. Being able to so accurately ration the energy consumption of each lightning strike meant that he could reduce the mana drain of the Skill, allowing him to sustain his onslaught for longer. Jeff continued in the same way for a while, running the dungeon over and over, practicing and refining his mastery of [Mana Burst]. By the end of his tinkering, he found that he was able to prioritize his targets and select which Kobol would bear the full brunt of the lightning storm. First, striking a critically injured Kobol with the initial surge, allocating just enough of the energy to ensure it was dispatchedthen sending the surplus energy contained in the blast to take out the less injured enemies in a line behind it, like a domino effect. Satisfied with the dives so far, Jeff decided to move on the next phase of his time-loop training regime. He quickly dispatched the remaining Kobols, not forgetting to hoover up more of the dungeon drops strewn around the field before proceeding on to the Great Hall and the Skeleton Knights. In this round, Jeff decided to permit the Bone Baron to reanimate the Knights, thereby giving him more targets to level his Skills on. To set himself a real challenge, he banned himself from using any Skills at all, choosing instead to rely simply on his raw strength and combat ability. He was hoping that by pushing himself in this way, he would raise his Attributes quickly and possibly gain another Dao insight, like he had when he fought the goblins in the training dungeon. In the entrance to the hall, he rolled out his Cultivation mat once more, and sat, Leech cradled in his lap, attempting to enter the perfect meditative state to reflect on the Dao. He focused his mind on the concept of sharpness, or sundering as it was defined by the tomes in the library. Jeffs thoughts returned once again to the vision he had received during his Class selection. The Steel Mage, the potent word he had uttered that had unleashed such destruction, and finally the luminous rune on his forehead, Acuity, that was perhaps a clue to the nature of his Path. Jeff waited patiently for the Knights to rouse themselves. As the streamers of reanimating Necrotic energy faded into the air, signifying the Bone Barons necromancy was complete, the Knights staggered upright. With the usual clatter of rusty armor and unearthly moans, they assembled in their phalanx formation, ready for battle. The Bone Baron, seated on his throne, seemed particularly incensed that Jeff had not yet bothered to get up from his Cultivation mat. Rise, you worm! Fury at Jeffs indifferent attitude apparent in his tone. Know ye not that you are about to die? Knights.. KnightsKILL HIM! The Bone Barons voice boomed throughout the Great Hall, kicking up dust bunnies and causing the cutlery on the table to clink and rattle. From his earlier Dungeon dive, Jeff had worked out that the Baron possessed no recollection of Jeffs previous successful visits. The Dungeon boss did, however, remember the thousands of other crawlers that had attempted, and failed, to run the dungeon. This knowledge, coupled with the trove of useful information he had concerning the System, the Vogels and the Tournament, made him an extremely valuable asseta resource that Jeff fully intended to plunder to its utmost. But first he had to deal with his Knights. Standing up to face the approaching phalanx, Jeff deliberately slid his sword back into its sheath, a gesture that sent the Baron over the edge into apoplectic rage. Think yourself so strong, do you? YOU DARE MOCK ME??? the baron roared, his features twisted in incandescent rage. Guards! Have at him! The advancing knights surged forward. Rising into the White Crane Spreads Wings pose, Jeff concentrated once again on the principle of Sundering''. Be the blade he murmured to himself, holding his hands rigid as he recalled the devastating attack the Steel mage had unleashed on his enemiesthe word he had spoken. Sweeping down to attack, he struck the first knight with a precise knife hand strike to the neck, exploiting the vulnerable gap in its armor between the chest plate and helmet. Simultaneously he spun on his heel, unleashing a roundhouse kick to another approaching knight. All the while he was immersed in combat, Jeff attempted to recapture the steely mindset that had overtaken him, that time he had battled with the successive waves of goblins. Without pausing to evaluate the effectiveness of his strikes or to read the System notifications, Jeff continued to weave among the relatively slow moving Skeleton Knights, dodging their thrusts while maintaining his attacks. Gradually as the battle wore on, he found his senses quickening. Again, the cold, hard clarity that he had known before began to permeate his movements. It was almost as if an external forcea master warriors intuitionoverlay his own, helping to guide his every move. Only once during the battle did he misstep, his heightened reflexes momentarily betraying him. A Knights sword swing got past his guard. With a dull clang, the blade bit cleanly into the flesh of his upper arm, then simply stopped. The blow, although delivered with the full strength of a Skeleton Knight, could not penetrate his newly tempered bones. His internal armor successfully stood up to the attack. Whats more, his massively improved Vitality and Endurance meant that the deep wound, had stopped bleeding and had begun to seal up within seconds. Even in the heat of battle Jeff had time to wonder at his newfound imperviousness. Such a blow to a normal man would have condemned him to weeks of convalescence and left him crippled for life, yet here he stood, virtually invulnerable to a mundane strike. He reckoned that a hit from a non-magical weapon would only have a real chance to do him any serious injury if it somehow managed to strike a vital organ, and even that was debatable. Easing back into the trance-like state, Jeff concentrated on the Dao, identifying as a sharpened needle, threading a destructive trail through the armored ranks of the knights. The route was laid out, almost preordained. Jeff cut, slashed, and stabbed his way through the knights, as if he was following some kind of choreographed routine, a deadly pavane that involved delivering fatal blows to the other dance partners. Making more use of his fists now that he had attained the Iron Body Achievement, he lashed out with a flurry of punches to the upper body of one unfortunate knight. The skin was mostly gone from his bare knuckles to reveal the luminous blue-steel bone structure beneath, now glowing with an unearthly radiance. Each strike was relentless and precise, his wrecking-ball fists shearing through cuirasses and helms and smashing the bones beneath. One by one, the armor-clad knights disintegrated, crumbling like rusty tin cans. Jeffs limbs had transformed into weapons of mass destruction, each punch and kick causing immense damage to the increasingly fragile looking Knights. Jeff laughed maniacally, his hair shifting and flowing around his head like strands of razor wire. His eyes took on a pure, white glow, his gaze strobing across the assembled knights, assessing every weakness. The soft contours of his body began to blur and shifthardeningrendering him into a sharper version of who he really was. He immersed himself fully in the Dao of Sundering, its principles guiding his every move. He advanced inexorably, his opponents becoming nothing more than fragmented variables in a grand equation, each one swiftly erased by his precise, unrelenting battlefield calculus. The deeper he immersed himself in the Daos tenets, the more his tactics evolved. Time began to decelerate, encasing Jeff in a bubble of heightened perception. He felt himself teetering on the cusp of some great enlightenment or revelation. All of a sudden, a solitary bell tolled, a deep chime ringing inside his head. The sound was so crystalline and pure it resembled the voice of some angelic being. That moment the peal resonated through him, the battle around him slowed down even further and then simplystopped. The Skeleton Knights froze in mid lunge as the System hit the pause button. Time itself stood still. BREAKTHROUGH! Dao AwakeningDao of Sundering You are on the brink of an Epiphany! Enter Dao Space: Yes/No? Jeff hit Yes Chapter Thirty-Three鈥擠ao Awakening and was instantly elsewhere. No longer confined within the gloomy interior of the Barons great hall, not in the dungeon at all, he now floated above a vast spacea boundless panorama stretching on all sides of him, illuminated from overhead by a tremendous light the size of the entire sky. This brilliance blazed down perpetually, seemingly almost solid in essence. The lambent glow resonated with wisdom, almost as though the light itself was data in its purest form. Floating in this sea of knowledge, Jeff stared down on a limitless plane stretching all around him. The plane was divided into a grid-like matrix hosting what looked like thousands, perhaps even millions of identical squares. Peering down at the expanse beneath him, he noticed glowing structures of some kind, populating the nucleus of each cell in the grid. Jeff felt himself being pulled towards the closest one, inexorably. As he approached, the strange shape in the center began to take on more resolution. He alighted on the edge of the square, around a hundred yards from the the huge glowing shape, which he now saw to be a massive plant or tree of some sort. The majestic structure radiated a light of its own, almost eclipsing the overhead radiance. Adorned with silver and gold accents, the colossal flora was organic in its structure, with branching dark green limbs extending from its central trunk. Each branch bore thousands of platinum leaves which tinkled gently, bathed in the nourishing glow of primal knowledge that streamed down from overhead. Jeff hesitated a moment, unsure of what to do, then he started to walk across the square towards the Dao tree. As he approached, he saw that despite its undeniably organic nature, the surface of the tree looked almost metallic, its bark a tessellated pattern of geometric green tiles, each one intricately inscribed with a symbol which pulsed with an inner light. Jeff moved still closer, straining to decipher the mosaic of markings on the trunk and boughs. Standing in the shade of the Dao tree, he struggled to focus on the runes etched into the leaves and branches, but no matter how hard he tried, the markings shimmered just beyond his comprehensionan order of magnitude more complex than even the Acuity runesome advanced composite that encapsulated a higher truth. The Dao tree seemed to sense his presencethe platinum canopy overhead undulated softly in the golden radiance. The metallic leaves rustled, as though blown by a non-existent breeze. The tinkling chimes from above gently whispered his name. Jeff Welcome A solitary bough of the tree swung down towards him slowly. Jeff eyed it warily, but sensing no hostility, he remained still, waiting for the branch to reach him. Dangling from the end of the virescent Dao bough hung a round, variegated seed, roughly the size of Jeffs fist. It resembled a giant multicolored walnut, ridged and marked with glowing fractal patterns. The branch bobbed in front of him gently, seeming to indicate that he should take the proffered fruit. Carefully he reached out and took it in his hand. Without any resistance, the glowing seed came free from the branch and lay in his palm. The violet striations inlaid into the surface of the weighty seed pulsed more brightly, its essence screaming of raw knowledge and power.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Not sure what the next stage of the process was, Jeff concentrated on the seed in his hand for a moment, pondering the Dao of Sundering. He immediately felt the Dao Seed begin to activate, the swirling patterns on its shell pulsing brighter and brighter, the light rivaling the blazing sky above. Without conscious thought, Jeff allowed intuition to guide his actions. He pressed the seed to his chest, drawing it into the sanctum of his Core Space. The seed floated effortlessly into his inner world, and there it hovered above the swirling mana pool, casting its light throughout his inner realm. The terrain within the Core Space had shifted slightly, morphing to accommodate the new arrival. The cavern walls had pulled back slightly to create a level, dry space at one end of the mana reservoir. The seed floated towards this newly created Dao Garden in his Core Space, and slowly came to rest on the sloping shore. For a moment, nothing happened, then the seed began to sink into the chambers floor, burrowing down into the solid bedrock. A delicate rivulet of raw mana trickled out from the center of the pool, curving around the Dao Garden, watering and nourishing the buried seed. Jeff could no longer see it, but he could sense the Dao Seeds presence, slowly growing in his Core Space. He knew instinctively that he would need to nurture the seed with meditation, mana, and much combat in order to encourage its growth, and perfect his understanding of the Dao of Sundering. With a fanfare of horned instruments, the System popped up a new dialog box. Jeff was presented with a list of four potential Dao Abilities to choose from. Dao of Sundering Successfully Awakened Choose Your Dao Ability: 1. Rain of Terror (Early): Let a thousand swords fall. Let a thousand heads roll. Smite them from above with your wrath. A devastating area of effect attack covering a large area. Cooldown 72 hours. 2. Hand of Mu Cephei (Early): Woe betide those who stand beneath the bloody red hand of Mu Cephei. Attack a single opponent with a devastating aerial attack. Cooldown 24 hours. 3. Slice and Dice (Early): Unleash a fog of hemorrhagic steel. Causes massive internal bleeding on enemies within the area of effect. Cooldown 48 hours. 4. Fifth Column (Early): Blunt their blades. Renders all enemies bladed weapons unusable within the area of effect. Cooldown 48 hours. Jeff read and reread the list, unsure which one to choose from. He felt like a kid in a candy store whod only been given a single choice. Each one of the abilities looked fantastic and he coveted them all. Jeff weighed his options carefully, pondering the destructive and defensive potential of each Dao ability on offer. Studying the list again, it became obvious that the respective cooldown times were indicative of which Dao abilities were most, and least devastating. Rain of Terror had the longest cooldown of them all, a lengthy 72 hours, which indicated a particularly devastating attack. Jeff reckoned this was the System equivalent of a nuclear optionsuch an ability could turn the tide of most any battle, even when faced with overwhelming odds. But its infrequent usability meant that it would have to be kept back as a trump card, reserved for moments of the utmost need. Hand of Mu Cephei on the other hand, had the shortest cooldown, indicating that it was the weakest attack. It offered a daily dose of death and destruction from above, a short, sharp shock to eliminate key threats. Slice and Dice appeared to be an offensive ability, while Fifth Column was more focused on defense. They were both equally potent, with 48 hour cooldowns. Defensive or offensive? Strategic or tactical? Jeff realized that this choice in some ways would dictate his future, and his journey down the Path he was on. In the end, he chose pragmatically, opting for the Hand of Mu Cephei. Jeff reasoned that having as much firepower at his disposal on any given day meant that he could remain flexible on the battlefield. The other abilities were great, but the cooldowns were too long to make them reliable weapons. He reasoned that having an ability that could take out a single, high powered opponent instantly might make all the difference, even in a battle against multiple enemies. Dao Ability: Hand of Mu Cephei Selected In a split second, Jeff was back in the great hall, and judging from the positions of the remaining Skeleton Knights, no time had elapsed at all. He knew instinctively that he had been transported outside of the remit of the Tournament, perhaps even the System during his sojourn in Dao Space. He had been hidden from the omnipresent surveillance of the Vogels. He seamlessly picked up where he had left off, keeping his features expressionless so as not to give any hint to the watching audience that anything untoward had transpired. Methodically, he continuing to take out the mobs. After his visit to Dao Space, he felt sharper somehow. His reflexes were more honed and his reaction times were further speeded up. With the last of the Skeleton Knights done and dusted, Jeff stood amidst the wreckage, deliberately ignoring the Bone Baron who towered in front of him, a deluge of Necrotic energy pouring impotently out of his mouth. Impatiently waving away the billowing cloud of Necrons, Jeff looked up at the now gaping Baron, a wry smile on his face. He toyed with the idea of testing out his newly acquired Dao Ability, the Hand of Mu Cephei, but hesitated, cautious about the abilitys cooldown and the temporal mechanics of the dungeon. Was it governed by his own subjective time, or real world hours? He decided to save it for a genuine emergency. Look, Urstap, we need to talk Chapter Thirty-Four鈥擳he Sempiternal Empire And so it continued in this way for the next six (subjective) weeks. Jeff spent his time running the dungeon in a variety of ways, honing his Skills and raising his Attributes. He would occasionally take a break and engage in a chat, or rather an enhanced interrogation session, with the Baron. Between bouts of combat with the Kobols, Skeleton Knights and the Baron, he managed to snatch some sleep on the desolate battlefield or in the Bone Tempering Bath Chamber, making use of his pop up tent. His provisions dwindled rapidly as the days passed. Once his supply of Roc Eggs and Ahud nuts had become depleted, he supplemented his diet with a handy protein source from the Dungeon entrancea very large and tasty flightless bird. The snail that had been clutched in its beak was grateful for Jeffs timely intervention too Each dungeon run served to push up his Attributes and to refine his combat style even further. By the end of his sixth week in the dungeon, the sun in the outside world of Tantalus had nearly set, signifying it was now almost time to head back to town to reunite with Fracta. His progression had begun to stall anywayas he neared the point of evolving to Grade H, the rewards, Omega Energy and real experience he earned inside the dungeon were becoming thinner. With the threshold of Evolution looming, Jeff knew that he would no longer be allowed entry to the dungeon once he leveled to the next Grade. After running the same Dungeon successfully a staggering hundred times in a row, the System had awarded Jeff another, perhaps dubious Achievement: Dungeon Rerun, which gave a significant 5% permanent boost to his Strength Attribute.
Pills, mumbled the Baron, snapping Jeff out of his reverie. Jeff peered down from the raised throne at the long skeletal figure of the dungeon boss, securely bound to the banquet table. The life story of the Bone Baron had turned out to be a sad one. Jeff extracted a patchwork of information from the mealy-mouthed giant during successive interrogations, spread out across numerous dungeon dives. Using judicious applications of Life/Acuity composite, a form of electroshock therapy that proved effective in loosening the Barons tongue, Jeff managed to piece together the events that had culminated in his transubstantiation into a low level Dungeon boss. The original Bone Baron, or Urstap Vongolay as he had once been known, had started out as a minor noble hailing from a small regional empire known as the Bayzon Triumvirate, covering around a hundred star systems tucked away in a far corner of the System-universe. The principal inhabitants of the empire were tall, blue-skinned people known as the Rhin. Aeons before, the Rhin had achieved a significant victory in The Tournament, successfully fielding a World Champion who had managed to rank highly in the Prime League, granting the Rhin race full membership in the Community of Equals. In the following centuries however, the Rhin had not capitalized on this triumph, but had instead rested on their laurels. Their civilization had stagnated, becoming preoccupied with the arts, fine dining and the peculiar Rhinish pastime of body-swapping and identity reassignment. This descent into decadence was noticed by surrounding forces who, sensing weakness, eyed their territory with cold, envious eyes. And they plotted. The Darwinian nature of the System decreed that you either progressed, or you died. Inevitably perhaps, a rival power in the next globular cluster over, a fanatical cult of blood magic adepts who were looking to expand their territories in the Glogly sector, made their move. Somehow, the cultists machinations were successful, and with the help of the local Vogellian Satrapy, they lobbied to have the Rhin relegated back to Candidate status, thereby losing their position in the Community of Equals. This demotion meant that once again, the Rhin were required by law to field a candidate in the first stages of the Tournament. Baron Urstap was selected as the Rhins chosen champion, possessed as he was of an athletic physique and an unusual interest in the combat arts. The Baron, the only child of unconventional parents, had been enrolled into an old-fashioned school known as The Academy of Excellence, run by an eccentric sect of monks on a backwater planet of the Bayzon Triumvirate. Within the halls and libraries of that venerable and ancient institution, the devoted monks had rigorously pushed the acolytes to hone their martial skills and apply themselves to the art of mana cultivation, something that most Rhinish society neglected. Only the Baron knew the awful truth, a grim reality of which his oblivious fellow Rhin were blissfully ignorant. Despite, or perhaps because of his education and his peculiar obsession with war, he knew that he didnt stand a chance of victory in the Tournament. Out of sheer desperation, a few days before the arrival of the Vogels enforcer fleet, he had turned to a contact in the Sempiternal Empire for assistance. Jeffs curiosity was piqued by the Barons mention of the Sempiternal Empire, a name he had heard mention of once before. The Empire was in fact an ancient, shadowy confederation of six undead races, eclipsing even the Vogels and the Autochs in their antiquity. Their empire had outlived thousands of other groupings and species, calmly watching their rise and fall throughout the ages of the System universe. The cold, slow existence of the death-attuned made the comings and goings of the ephemeral, life-attuned species look like mayflies passing through a crypt. The Sempiternal Empire had gifted the Baron with the ability to succeed in the Tournament. For a price. Pills the Baron mumbled once again, the single word laden with regret. It wasnt the Academy or my training. It was my pact with the Sempiternal Empire he coughed and strained half-heartedly against his bindings, the chains securing him to the banquet table rattling faintly. His gaze drifted away, lost in ancient memories. The Academy honed my Skills and got me to the lower ranks of Grade I, which I admit was head and shoulders above the average citizen of the Bayzon Triumviratethose decadent, spineless dilettantesbut not enough to guarantee me victory in the Tournament and gain my people re-entry into the Prime League. The Barons rambling speech drifted, sometimes incoherently, between pride in his achievements and bitterness towards his fellow Rhin. He continued to reminisce for some time, grumbling about the jaded nature of the Rhin while simultaneously boasting about his strength compared to his fellow people. Jeff steered the conversation, or interrogation, back to the Sempiternal Empire with a few tongue-loosening jolts of Life/Acuity-attuned mana. OkOkI told you I would help! As I was about to explain, when it became clear that I stood very little chance of survival in the Tournament, desperation caused me to seek an alliance. I reached out through intermediaries to an emissary of the Sempiternal Empire. They gave me the means to level up my Gradea purchase way beyond the financial reach of The Bayzon Triumvirate. Each one of those Grade F Lesser Shining Path Cultivation Pills was worth a small fortune.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Jeffs leaned forward in fascination, intrigued by the idea that he could possibly find such a miraculous pill, one that would instantly elevate him to the next Grade. What are these pills, and how do they work? There are many ways to accelerate your evolution, to push you on to the next Grade early. Some use natural items like magical herbs, ascension fruits or Beast Cores. Others turn to drugs like Ambrosia, popularly known as Synthetic Omega Energy, though many believe that term is misleading. Make no mistake, young Jeff, all these methods come with risksfaulty foundations, damaged pathways Can I buy any of these items in the Tournament Store? Jeff asked the Baron eagerly. Bah the Baron scoffed, his face wrinkled in scorn. the Store is a useless trinket shop, a Vogel creation. You would never find anything of such potency there. He paused for a moment, thinking. You might be able to find something like it in the Auction, though The Auction Jeff had forgotten all about that additional, locked doorway accessible through the Store vestibule. Jeff waited, but the Baron had fallen silent, having no more information on the subject. He decided to quiz Boz and Misty on the subject of the Auction at the next available opportunity. Further grilling of the Baron ceased to yield any further useful information, other than a postscript to the whole sorry history of the Rhin people. On Baron Urstaps triumphal return to the Bayzon Triumvirate, after successfully completing the Tournament and saving his people from the threat of enslavement or annihilation, he was forced to adhere to the terms of the pact that he had undertaken with the Sempiternal Empire. On every planet inhabited by the Rhin, an enclave of Undead colonists from Ankh-D?m was allowed to take root. At first, it seemed that the Rhin had gotten off lightlythe small influx of undead polluting their planets seemed nothing but a minor annoyance. Until the undead began to work their insidious plan Exploiting the Rhins fascination with body modification and appearance, the undead managed to inveigle their way into every aspect of Rhinish society. The tools and wisdom they supplied always came with a heavy price tag, and over the ensuing century, the Rhin were subverted, becoming nothing more than a vassal state in hock to the Sempiternal Empire. Baron Urstap himself, meanwhile, became increasingly obsessed with the pursuit of power through mana cultivation, ascending into the ranks of Grade E. He teetered on the cusp of becoming a pseudo-immortal and attaining Potentate status. An acclaimed Cultivator and warrior in the Glogly sector, he was crowned the undisputed ruler of the Bayzon Empire, usurping the traditional Triumvirate in the process. His own personal creation, the Path of the Bone Orchard, was lauded by critics across the System-universe. By this stage though, he had become a full-time adherent to the dark doctrines of the Sempiternal Empire. The Bone Baron had seemingly saved his people by cozying up to the undead, but in the process he had allowed his Path to become corrupted and his homelands to be defiled. Eventually, his strength withered, his early promise remaining unfulfilled, stuck in an E Grade bottleneck. At that crucial stage he languished, nothing more than a medium-ranked, ephemeral Necromancer, his evolution hollow, his Core Space corrupted by the unbalancing influence of Necrotic energy. Jeff listened to this salutary tale, resolving to do his best to avoid any dealings with the Sempiternal Empire, if possible. The goblet in his hand began to sizzle aggressively, indicating that the bubbling, corrosive substance had begun to eat through the heavy metal receptacle. He took another sip, allowing the bone broth to course through him again. You have consumed an enhanced food item Your Endurance Attribute has risen by 2 Drinking the broth had been another of the Barons suggestions. Sure, his HP took a hit with each excruciating mouthful, but his constitution had scaled so much that his health soon ticked back up to full. That old phrase that which does not kill you makes you stronger held considerable weight in the System-universe. Living a life of hardship and pain was a surefire way to improve. Of course, nothing surpassed real combat as the ultimate way to level and hone ones attributes and Skills. Jeff had embraced this fact over the past (subjective) weeks. With a determined gulp, Jeff took a final swig of the Bone Tempering Broth, before tossing the now useless goblet into a corner of the room. Jeff steadfastly ignored the pain as the scorching broth went down. His lips fizzed and a puff of smoke escaped from his mouth as his gullet was burnt. Achievement Unlocked! *Cast Iron Stomach* By consuming that which should not be consumed, and surviving. Reward: +5% Endurance That was what he had been waiting for. It seemed his time in the dungeon was up. Monster mumbled the Baron from his supine position, observing Jeffs astounding progress. Jeff took a look at his stats. NAME: Jeff Nostro RACE: Human HIT POINTS (HP): 80/180 (+10*) MANA POINTS (MP): 70/170 Path: Spellsword [Hidden] GRADE: I, Level 921 CLASS: Arcane Duelist 2 SKILLS: CLASS SKILLS: ATTRIBUTES: Achievements: Dao: His Level hovered just short of the requirement to upgrade, but the System had ceased awarding him much in the way of rewards in the dungeon recentlythe dwindling Omega Energy gains another clear signal that it was time to move on. Jeff decided not to apply any of the unallocated attribute points for the moment, waiting to see what the next dungeon held in store for him. Jeff stood up from the gilded throne and gazed down at the Bone Baron silently, his mood solemn. He no longer derived any pleasure from the act, but there was no way to leave the Dungeon without first dispatching the Dungeon boss. Still silent, he walked down the steps towards the bound form of the Baron. His hands, haloed by flickers of Life/Acuity mana, reached out and almost tenderly, rested on the giants blue skull. Know this, Jeff spoke up suddenly, compelled by an inexplicable need to justify his actions. Jeff knew, on an intellectual level, that the creature before him was merely an avatar, a high-functioning simulacrum created by the System. In spite of this awareness, as a result of the many, extensive conversations he had shared with the Baron, getting to know his life story, the countless times he had killed him were beginning to weigh on his conscience. I will do my utmost to save my people. After that, I hope one day to visit a Bayzon Empire that is liberated from the scourge of the Undead. The Baron looked up at him, the customary sneer fading from his lips. To Jeffs astonishment, he responded in a serious tone. Bahsuch weakness. The path to power is long and arduous. The System will soon purge you of these romantic notions. Always rememberit is It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be bothGo on, Champion of Earth. End me, he urged, nudging Jeffs mana-filled hand with his forehead. "Never stop advancing. You are strongstronger than any I have seen or even heard of, not for millions of yearsperhaps you are the one who could The dungeon bosss voice became more uncertain. no, no, it cant be The Baron had often muttered vague pronouncements like this during their sessions in the dungeon. Jeffs ability to manipulate and counter Necrotic energy filled him with a form of superstitious fear, but Jeff was unable to make little sense of it. The Baron collected himself, and, looking up at Jeff, said solemnly, Eliminate all that stands in your way, or you will surely fail. Jeff nodded tersely, acknowledging the stark reality of the System. He sensed a deep truth in the Barons bleak words. Delaying the inevitable no further, but still feeling some sympathy towards the Baron, Jeff withdrew a sizable portion of the mana inhabiting his Core Space. A devastating beam of near-solid energy erupted from the palms of his hands, completely vaporizing the Bone Barons skull. You have killed a Grade I Dungeon Boss Reward: One Omega Energy Point The familiar System dialog appeared, prompting Jeff to leave the Dungeon. Jeff clicked Y and returned to Tantalus. The setting sun hung low on the horizon ahead of him as Jeff activated the RemoteTalk Bangle encircling his wrist and initiated the link to Fracta. To his relief, she responded immediately, her voice a welcome sound in his head. Jeff, good to hear your voice. I barely made it through the Western dungeon. Im heading back towards the inn now. How was your dive? Jeff detected a new-found confidence in Fractas voice and guessed she had gained valuable Omega Energy and leveled her Skills considerably by grinding her way through the dungeon. Fracta, its good to hear from you too. Its been a long time A long time? But we saw each other just this morning, Jeff. Fracta replied, her voice tinged with confusion. As Jeff set out across the marshes, he began to explain the bizarre time dilation hed experienced in the Tantalus-East dungeon. in the Western Dungeon, theres no time change, just wave after wave of increasingly powerful beasts. Fracta replied. I managed to defeat the Dungeon Boss in the end. A poisonous, fire breathing Wyvern Jeff felt a swell of pride for her achievement, and found himself eager to head West to test his own mettle against a real-life dragon. He was already looking forward to finding out more about the challenges he would encounter on his next Dungeon dive. They agreed to temporarily pause their conversation as Fracta neared the town, what with her needing to focus on reaching their room undetected. Wasting no time, Jeff broke into a distance-devouring sprint across the mist-shrouded marshland, heading back towards the inn at the town center. He picked up speed, barreling across the tussocks and weaving around the quicksand pools and bogs of the marsh. A couple of times, beasts of prey noted his passage, but something about his aura dissuaded them from attacking. As Jeff was nearing the town, a sudden piercing squawk rang out from the bangle. Jeff Jeff helpunder attack..cant Fractas words, laced with panic, were abruptly sliced off as the transmission cut out. Jeff immediately attempted to regain contact with her through the bangle, but was met only with a deafening silence. Chapter Thirty-Five鈥擲tealth Mode With Fractas fear-laden voice still echoing in his ears, Jeffs determination surged into overdrive. He allocated every single unallocated attribute point he had to Speed. He gained momentum still furtherrunning at over fifty miles an hourhis feet churned up clods of wet soil as he propelled himself across the terrain with increased urgency. Congratulations! Your Physical Fitness Skill has now reached Level 8 Reaching the outskirts of town, he burst into the inns storeroom, to be immediately confronted with a scene of utter chaos. The wooden door was flung wide open, and the small room was a total mess, littered all around with the unmistakable signs of battle. Blood splatters painted the walls, evidence that extreme violence had occurred, though it was unclear who had been the victim. Abandoning all further attempts to keep a low profile, Jeff rushed out of the storeroom and charged through the courtyard and into the alleyway, storming back onto the main square of Tantalus. Scanning back and forth through the darkening umber twilight shrouding the square, Jeffs gaze darted between the usual buskers, hawkers and indigents lingering around the fringes. At the squares center, near the gruel fountain, stood the ever present detachment of Sharkeys soldiers, overseeing a small queue of famished Contestants. Fracta was nowhere to be seen. Jeff turned his back on the square and smashed through the front door of The Autochs Head. He paused in the entrance, the sudden hush among the patrons only interrupted by the sound of the ruined door clattering to the floor behind him. Ignoring the stares of the assorted drunks, gamblers and courtesans, Jeff marched towards the bar where an increasingly agitated looking Tafaf stood, clutching a half filled tankard of ale in his hand. Nervously, the lizard-man began to babble in his lyrical rap-like voice, the leathery ruff around his neck flapping up and down as he delivered what seemed almost like a pre-prepared verse: Ah Sir Jeff. Good to see you. I prey you are most well, Of your eight legged companion, a tale of sorrow I must tell. Sharkeys henchmen came hither, not one hour prior. The whereabouts of Lady Fracta they did enquire. My lips were sealed. By our pact my devoted silence was bound, But through devilish Skill use, her location was found. To the Crystal Citadel, shes been whisked away through the air, No doubt a gruesome fate is awaiting her there. As a friend, I suggest you put this whole episode behind you, Forget Fracta, Its likely what she would want you to do, too. The next three nights here are on the house, Would you like a drink? You look worn out Tafaf finished his pour, offering the mug of ale to Jeff across the bar with a practiced flourish. A slender elf standing at the bar, clearly the original intended recipient of the drink complained in a croaky voice. Hold on a second! That was my the drunken elfs slurred objection trailed off uncertainly as his eyes widened, no doubt having taken a second look at Jeffs stats and his imposing presence. Ignoring the proffered flagon, Jeff stood for a moment, his mind racing as he deliberated over his next move. With [Mana Essence] active, he detected a faint aura of guilt around the innkeeper, but he decided now was not the best time to press the matter. Shooting one last icy stare at Tafaf, Jeff turned on his heel and stormed back out through the shattered entrance of the inn. He cut a determined path straight across the square, headed directly towards the avenue that led to the Citadel. The gazes of the inns patrons followed him curiously, their eyes flickering behind the grimy windows as he departed. As Jeff entered the avenue he expected to gain a clearer view of the Citadel, directly across the water in front of him, but the ever-present fog bank he had noticed before still stretched from the end of the causeway, encompassed the entire island and obscuring the Citadel from his sight. Approaching the beginning of the causeway, he noticed a small guard post had been set up, manned by two surly looking soldiers. Initially, after evaluating the pairs miserly stats, and still fueled by the righteous feeling of wrath that had overtaken him after Fractas last communication, Jeff had planned to bulldoze right on through the guard postas the two guards combined attribute points were less than a quarter of his, he strode forward with confidence. But a whisper of caution echoed in the back of his mind. Despite his newly acquired powers, he knew he was not invincibleyet. Perhaps a more strategic approach would pay dividends in the long run? An old adage sprang to mindappear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak He changed tack, deciding at the last moment to employ subterfuge. Slowing his pace, Jeff feigned disorientation, adopting a glazed look to his eyes. He stumbled forward towards the pair of guards. Their eyes widened in shock, no doubt noticing his formidable, overpowered stats. The nearest soldier, a towering Wolfen covered in long, greasy black fur, clumsily reached for his sword. Beside him, his companiona slender blue skinned reptilian with three eyeshastily bent down to pick up a spear lying on the ground at his feet. Reporting to Sharkey for branding and tax registration Jeff mumbled, putting on a semi-coherent and dazed tone, doing his best to simulate the effects of Bonifaks spell of compulsion. Your Stealth Attribute has risen by 1 Relief washed over the guards faces as they visibly relaxed. The Wolfen guard, Uiro-ku, pushed his sword back into its scabbard, casting a sneering glance at Jeff. They eyed his fine store-bought clothes, avarice and cruelty flickering across their faces as they exchanged knowing glances with each other. Hand over your storage ring and any weapons about your person. Youll get your stuff back after your audience with Sharkey. No doubt my inventory will be significantly lightened in the process, Jeff thought to himself. Still maintaining the facade of befuddlement and compliance typical of someone under one of Bonifaks geasa, he obediently placed his ring into the outstretched hand of the guard on the left, his expression dazed. Prior to approaching the causeway, he had already stowed all his weaponry and other equipment in the storage device. The two soldiers patted him down cursorily, entirely overlooking the Periapt of The Erstwhile Tree Gods, which Jeff still wore around his neck beneath his clothes. Although the slight boosts to his HP, Vitality and Endurance he gained from wearing the amulet were now negligible, Jeff had grown used to its comforting presence against his skin. The guards also failed to detect the RemoteTalk Bangle on his wrist, which Jeff had deliberately not stowed away, still hopeful he would be able to use it to regain contact with Fracta. The guards obviously placed great trust in Bonifaks compulsion Skill, and were convinced it was still keeping Jeff docile and obedient to their orders.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Brackish, foul smelling waves lapped sluggishly at the embankments flanking the causeway, and a thick layer of mutated enzyme mats and rotting organic material lay washed up along the shoreline. To Jeff, the sea appeared to be lifeless, but Emwarr had warned of the dangers lurking beneath Tantaluss dark watersunder its oily surface lay a whole ecosystem of monstrous sea creatures waiting to strike. Jeff had complained to Emwarr about the discrepancy between Mistys glowing description of Tantalus and the grim reality. The rodent woman explained that it hadnt always been this way Tantalus had once been a flourishing tourist destination, a wonder of the Glogly Sector. Sightseers and researchers had traveled from far and wide to relax, cruise the crystal-clear waters of the vast ocean, and marvel at the Crystal Citadel, a pre-System relic of a long-extinct race, predating boththe Makers and The Old Ones who came after them. After the Vogelian Ascendancy, Tantalus had been designated as a local Tournament marshalling point. The changes inflicted on the planet led to an ecological collapsemost of the life died off or mutated into something dark and malevolent. In sympathy, the once brilliant Citadel dimmed, its inner light nearly extinguished as the planet slowly succumbed to death around it. A fatberg sluggishly drifted past the causeway, borne on the receding tide, and despite the lateness of the day, the temperature and humidity of Tantalus had risen even higher than before. Jeff felt a bead of sweat trickle down his neck as the Wolfen guard, Uiro-ku, led him onwards towards the Citadel. Jeff made a mental note about the location of his Storage Ringright pants pocket. Uiro-kus blue-skinned companion had chosen to remain behind at the check-point. As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, guttering oil lamps flared to life on the outer ramparts of the castle ahead, dimly illuminating more of Sharkeys soldiers standing guard below. The poor illumination and the magical haze hanging in the air rendered the structure an amorphous silhouette. Jeff squinted through the gloom, concentrating on the vague outlines of the building, attempting to see through the fog and mentally map out the fortifications and defenses of the looming castle looming before him. Suddenly, everything seemed to spring into focus, as if a light switch had been flipped to the on position. Jeff was rewarded with a System notification. Congratulations! You have successfully overcome a Charm of Concealment. Your Cognition Attribute has risen by 1 Your Night Vision Skill has risen to Level 3 Congratulations! You have learnt the Skill Covert Surveillance (Level 1) With the new [Covert Surveillance] Skill, his surroundings snapped into further focus, providing Jeff with an enhanced level of clarity. The magical fog surrounding the Crystal Citadel was dispelled completely and he was able to see the walls and layout of the building before him in their entirety for the first time. Once again he was struck by the disparity between Mistys glowing description of Tantaluss facilities and the grim reality. When hyping the Citadel earlier, Misty had painted a picture of a beautiful crystalline structure, glowing with an unearthly internal light, a wonderful sight to behold. The reality couldnt have been more different. The main body of the huge building in front of him was indeed formed of some sort of clear crystal, but black veins were embedded deep within its matrix, the resulting material looking like an unholy cross between anthracite and diamond. Fluted, spiraling towers, reminiscent of blown glass, rose from the center and sides of the structure, giving the building the appearance of an inverted chandelier. Shard-like outcrops and glossy black and clear crystalline deposits jutted out at odd angles from the main edifice, adding to its surreal design. Directly ahead, a massive drawbridge rested in the lowered position, spanning the moat that separated the causeway from the main entrance. Beyond the wooden drawbridge loomed a raised portcullis, further reinforcing the Citadels almost medieval air of impregnability. Around the entrance, more of Sharkeys troops clustered, the flickering torchlight glinting on their armor and weaponry. Jeff surreptitiously observed the robust iron chains that extended from the wooden platform to the windlass mechanism used to raise and lower the drawbridge. The windlass itself was housed within a chamber above the arched gate-passage. Positioned on either side of the portcullis were strategically placed arrow slits, providing the castles defenders with ample opportunity to launch ranged attacks on any intruders foolish enough to attempt to cross the threshold below. Jeffs stealthy scrutiny of his surroundings paid off as he was rewarded with another System generated vision. Jeff saw the Vanguard version of himself running nimbly across the darkened rooftops of a city at night, somehow disappearing into one shadow and simultaneously reappearing in another some distance away. Eluding the guards stationed around a portcullis, he slipped through the gates into a heavily fortified castle. Once inside, a glowing nimbus enveloped him. When the glow subsided he had transformed into the shape of a stooped, elderly butler, garbed in the drab attire of a servant. The Vanguard navigated his way through the labyrinthine halls and corridors of the castle with ease, unchallenged and unnoticed. Reaching the royal bedchamber, he stood for momentbeside the slumbering king, before removing a small vial from his pocket. He carefully dripped poison into a beaker resting on a table by the Kings bedside. Mission accomplished, he melted into the shadows before slipping soundlessly out of the window into the night. System Challenge: Eight becomes OneBreak the Chains of Fate Complete 3 More Tribulations to Rewrite Your Path(Vanguard) 4/7 Complete The Wolfen yanked Jeff out of his reverie, forward onto the drawbridge, his confidence noticeably increasing as he joined his comrades. Get a move on. We havent got all night He growled, slaver flying into Jeffs face as he shoved him roughly onwards, almost causing him to lose his footing. The guards pretense of civility quickly evaporated as they crossed into the Citadels outer defenses. Amidst the raucous jeers and mocking catcalls of the assembled troops, Jeff was briskly frogmarched beneath the raised portcullis and through the gate-passage. As he moved forward, his gaze drifted upwards, noting cunningly placed murder holes set into the ceilingno doubt designed to enable the unleashing of various unpleasant objects or substances on passers-by. Any future assault on the Citadel would have serious issues contending with such a potentially h After passing through the outer gatehouse, they traversed a crystal-walled barbican, the southernmost end serving mainly as a storage area, littered with barrels, coils of rope and carts. Tucked away in one corner was a row of low-slung cages, each one imprisoning tournament Contestants of various species. These forlorn individuals peered through the bars with a mix of curiosity and despair as Jeff and his guard swept briskly past. Jeff peered into each cage, hoping to catch a glimpse of Fracta, but alas, she was nowhere to be seen. Above the cages, several gibbets were crudely fixed to the stone and crystal walls, containing the decaying remains of various corpsesa stark warning to anyone thinking of challenging Starkeys regime. You better behave yourself or youll end up like this vermin, the guard snarled contemptuously, jerking with his thumb towards the gibbets and the unfortunate caged Contestants as they passed. Continuing onwards, they reached the north end of the barbican, which hosted a diverse crowd of individuals promenading around, garbed in casual, civilian attire. This motley group, comprised of various species, stood out starkly from their poverty-stricken counterparts back in Tantalus town. Unlike the gaunt and emaciated figures on the other side of the causeway, these individuals were all glowing with health, and, indeed looked extremely well fed. Some in fact even looked overweight. Clearly, these lucky few were the beneficiaries of Sharkeys largesse. Despite the pain runes seared into their foreheads, they lacked the general air of gloom which characterized the denizens of Tantalus outside the Citadel walls. The one percent of the one percent Jeff mused, as he watched a rotund individual waddle past him and disappear through an open doorway leading away from the barbican. As Jeff crossed the square, he peered through the entrance at an extraordinary sight. In the glinting, diamond-walled room beyond, more of the citizenry of the Citadel were seated around a long metallic table, indulging in a feast of some kind. Punctuating the center of the table a row of ornate taps continuously disgorged streams of multicolored, semisolid substances into a trough-like groove. The strange food'' being pumped from the taps resembled clotted cream in consistency. Signs inset into the notches atop each spigot helpfully labelled the types of foodstuff on offer. Thanks to the advanced tech of the System, the writing resolved itself into English, allowing Jeff to identify the gloopy offerings being dispensed: Sugars, Fats, Proteins and CarbohydratesSugars were a vivid bubblegum pink, Proteins a soft blue, Carbs a rich red, and Fats a striking yellow. The aliens around the table appeared utterly intoxicated by the brightly colored, creamy streams, some greedily scooping the sludge straight from the taps and shoveling it into their mouths with orgiastic abandon, while others experimented, mixing the different food-types together in bowls, the new concoctions they crafted morphing into shades of deep purple, orange or even inky black. Their moans and squeals of delight spilled through the doorway and out into the bailey as they gorged themselves. As Jeff was led away, he couldnt help but wonder what compromises these strange gourmands had made, or what price they had paid to enjoy such special treatment. Jeff was hurried on past the strange feast, through a second, even more robust looking inner gatehouse, secured by another stout looking portcullis. The path led down a lengthy, tunnel-like crystalline corridor, which opened abruptly into a huge palisaded Bailey, easily the size of two football fields, its walls clad in overlapping sheets of black and transparent crystal. The central edifice of the Citadel stood before Jeff and his chaperone, resembling a surreal fusion of a cursed fairy tale castle and a deranged Escher print. Impossibly steep buttresses soared upwards along its walls, while defensive box-machiolations jutted out at gravity defying angles from its crystal flanks. Adorning the circumference of its upper floors, jagged, torch-lit crenellations cast serrated shadows onto the square below. Steep staircases zigzagged across the outer walls, forming a vertical labyrinth of access points connecting to impossibly tall and slender grey-glass towers protruding out from the main crystalline structure, like stalks of alien bamboo. Complementing the crystalline, extruded walls and towers, the makers of the Citadel had utilized that ubiquitous gray material, which seemingly could be molded into any shape or form. The construction techniques utilized used here were orders of magnitude more advanced than anything on Earth. One corner of the bailey buzzed with at least twenty soldiers immersed in various combat drills, ranging from traditional swordplay, spear maneuvers and archery, to displays of magical Skills. As wells as physical projectiles, the air was filled with mana bolts, fireballs and arcs of lightning streaking towards targets lining one wall. These bursts of offensive magic cast vivid flares of technicolor light, briefly illuminating the castle battlements. All the soldiers had been professionally kitted out in matching uniformshigh-Grade brigandine chainmail or plate armor under fine cloth, sturdy metal helms and gauntlets, with matching grievesand their weaponry looked to be of a high-tier too, but Jeff was relieved when a quick scan of their stats revealed the soldiers themselves were all unevolved Grade Js, their Total Attribute Points low. However, one exception stood out amongst the gathered soldiery. Facing away from Jeff and overseeing the training was a towering, burly humanoid, fully eight foot tall. Clad in a short-sleeved leather shirt adorned with interlocking iron rings, the enormous humanoid had massive, bulging biceps and legs as thick as telegraph poles. Gripped in one massive hand was the haft of a impressive looking double bladed battle-axe, the butt resting casually on one shoulder. His authoritative voice echoed around the bailey as he barked commands at the troops. NAME: Hazinarr RACE: Scafulan Troll, Grade I HIT POINTS (HP): 190/190 +90 MANA POINTS (MP): 70/70 REWARD: 930 Coins Total Attribute Points (TAP): 379 As Jeff crossed the bailey, Hazinarr, as if sensing something, swung around to face Jeff. The brute was almost standard human in his facial features, with dark brown hair and piercing, slate grey eyes that bored into Jeffs as he approached. Only his monstrous size differentiated him from an Earth human. As their eyes met, Jeff felt an instinctive, visceral dislike for the troll welling up in him. Something in his expression, a coldness and a propensity for violence lurking there raised Jeffs hackles. Uniquely, among all the people Jeff had encountered in Tantalus so far, Hazinarr stood out as the sole individual whose forehead bore no scarthere was no rune of pain branded upon him. One of the leaders, Jeff concluded. As they proceeded past the practicing soldiers, Jeff felt Hazinarrs eyes boring into his back. Waves of killing intent rolled off the axeman, making the hairs on the back of Jeffs neck stand on end. Chapter Thirty-Six鈥擬aster of Pain Jeff and his escort moved on, through a high doorway and into the main structure of the Citadel. Behind him he heard the master-at-arms, Hazinarr, dismissing the practicing troops. Jeffs heightened senses detected the man was following in their footsteps. A long hall spread out before them, the space buzzing with activity, populated by yet more soldiers. Neat rows of beds indicated that the room had been repurposed into a barracks by the army. Up until this moment, Jeff hadnt fully considered how he would locate Fracta, extract her from Sharkeys clutches and navigate their escape from Tantalus to advance in the Tournament. The recent surge in his stats, and the victories from his relentless dungeon runs had served to inflate his confidence. But as he penetrated deeper into the Citadel, through each successive defensive layer, and witnessed the sheer numbers of Sharkeys forces arrayed against him, a flicker of doubt began to take root at the back of his mind. Was that confidence deserved, or was it hubris? His iron resolve began to weaken. Jeff thought back to the Barons final warning, about how there was no room for sentiment in the System. Was his attempt to save a friend, driven by empathy and comradeship, simply too big a risk? Jeff wondered for the first time whether he was putting himself and Earth in danger by trying to help a member of another species. Were his human emotions unnecessary baggageactually an impediment to his survival in this ruthless Tournament? Perhaps the only way forward to ensure success in the new post-System world was to discard those last vestiges of feeling, to become colder, harder and a helluva lot stronger in order to achieve victory. Should he, at this point even be looking for Fracta at all? Shouldnt he instead be scouting for the easiest way through to the next stage of the Tournament, rather than endangering everything for an ally? As he agonized over the moral dilemma, he was for some reason suddenly reminded of his brief conversation with Kjel and Dijana, the Autochs on the ship. Recalling that there was a Resistance, that there were other people in this cold and cruel System-universe attempting to fight back against the Vogels, Jeff reminded himself that not every race had sacrificed their ideals and morality along the way. Jeff felt his attitudes begin to shift into place, his moral compass swinging firmly back into the correct position. He finally rejected the Barons honest but cold-hearted advice. There had to be more to life than survival and self-interest. Even though he had not sworn any kind of oath, Jeff felt in his heart that aligning himself with any Resistance movement was the natural choice for him, and Earth. Sacrificing his ideals for expediency and ditching his friends during their time of need was anathema to Jeff, and he realized deep down that if he didnt at least make an attempt to rescue Fracta he would never be able to forgive himself. Besides, he reasoned to himself, having a friends back could be mutually beneficial. After all, during their battle on the mountainside they had overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. She had fought loyally by his side, even carrying him up to the summit when he was struck down by the Roc Matriarch''s curse. His resolve once again solid, Jeff continued onwards, meticulously observing and memorizing the defenses and layout. Congratulations! Your Covert Surveillance Skill has now reached Level 2 Up a grand staircase they ascended, climbing seven flights to the very top of the Citadel. As they ascended, Jeff saw that each floors landing branched off into multiple doors. Though he kept a constant lookout, he had so far been unable to determine where the exit portal leading out of Tantalus was located. Reaching the top of the building, he was unceremoniously pushed, none too gently, through a set of doors and onto a large terrace, surrounded by torchlit battlements. The platform offered panoramic views of the Citadels outer walls and surrounding high spindly crystal towers, with the lights of the nearby Tantalus town twinkling in the distance. A slight breeze blew across the ramparts, a welcome respite from the humidity below. The far corner of the terrace was occupied by three figures, holding court on a raised area that had been decked out with plush carpets and fine furniture. Intricate tapestries hung from the surrounding walls, softening the harsh grey and black architecture of the building. The three creatures were busy presiding over an open-air courtroom or tribunal of some kind. Jeffs guard pushed him down onto a long bench by the door. There he joined a long queue of other prisoners seated, obviously waiting their turn to be seen. Jeff settled back on the bench, intently observing the proceedings. To the right of the group, seated on a straight-backed chair, was a figure shrouded in dark robes, radiating an intense aura of Death that unmistakably marked them as a member of the Undead. A voluminous cowl and a mesh fabric veil partially obscured their features, but Jeff could make out a pair of grey, gleaming eyes gazing down at the supplicant before them. There was a brutal coldness in that gaze, reminiscent of a deadly bird of prey eying its next meal. NAME: Retrenka RACE: Vboloex (Sempiternal Empire) Grade: H HIT POINTS (HP): Hidden MANA POINTS (MP): Hidden REWARD: N/A Total Attribute Points (TAP): Hidden Jeff was intrigued by the presence of a member of the Sempiternal Empire here at Tantalus, and he speculated on its role within the Citadel. He knew from his studies and conversations with the Bone Baron that an uneasy alliance existed between the Vogels and the Undead, more a marriage of convenience than a genuine partnership. Noticing Retrenkas relatively high Grade, he determined to be cautious. Sitting behind a simple wooden desk to the left of the Undead representative was an Ejdar, instantly recognizable by its distinctly ruddy complexion.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. NAME: Leypal RACE: Ejdar Grade: I HIT POINTS (HP): Hidden MANA POINTS (MP): Hidden REWARD: N/A Total Attribute Points (TAP): Hidden On a desk in front of the Ejdar lay a softly glowing console, its screen awash with data streams and images. Clearly in an administrative role, the carmine-colored imp murmured something to his companions in a low voice, reading from the display. In the middle of the trio, reclining on an ornate chaise longue like some Roman emperor, was Sharkey, undeniably the leader of the group. Sharkeys goat-like head was covered in rough, white fur. Black, twisting horns spiraled from his sloping forehead and between them he bore a red glowing pentagram tattoo, marking him as an existing System-dweller, not a new arrival. His overall physiology was roughly humanoid, but his wool-covered legs had an extra joint and ended in cloven hooves. On a low slung coffee table in front of him rested a large iron bowl or cauldron, filled to the brim with a roiling red liquid mana that Jeff did not recognize. The cauldron itself fascinated himinlaid into its protruding rim and spiraling down around its outer surface was a dense line of silvery engraved runes, their intricate patterns mesmerizing in their complexity, and somehow ominous. With [Mana Essence] active, Jeff ws able to see ruby red lines of force streaking from each of the runes etched into its sides. Some of these lines stretched out to the Contestants on the terrace, connecting the brands on their foreheads with the corresponding runes etched into the cauldron. Other lines disappeared down through the stone floor of the terrace, likely connecting the device with the inhabitants of the Citadel. However, most of the lines of force streaked out in one directionacross the ramparts and straight towards Tantalus town. ITEM: Crucibulum Agonix (Runic Ritual Cauldron of Suffering) ITEM TYPE: Dual Purpose. Mana Storage / Weapon ITEM CLASS: Peak, Grade G REQUIREMENTS: None EXPANDABLE: Yes DESCRIPTION: This expertly crafted runic energy cauldron serves as both an instrument of control over small to medium sized population centers, as well as a Pain mana storage system. It can store up to 10,000 Pain MP. Current storage level: 6732/10000 Sharkeys amber-colored eyes bore down on the quivering Contestant, their rectangular, slot-like pupils widening slightly as he gently caressed the glowing cauldron before him. NAME: Sharkey RACE: Capram Grade: I HIT POINTS (HP): Hidden MANA POINTS (MP): Hidden REWARD: N/A Total Attribute Points (TAP): Hidden Once again, Jeff felt that same primal chill he had experienced, back when he first encountered an Ejdar. The sinister trio before him seemed straight out of a 70s horror moviea gathering of demons. If you havent the Coin, then you take your chances with the fighting pits, or rejoin the general population in town. Of course, there is still the possibility of an extension on your line of credit. Perhaps some more of those small islands,? A murmured conversation ensued between Sharkey and the Ejdar, during which the red-skinned gnome consulted its console. Finally, Sharkey grunted and addressed the pale creature before him again. Yes, the Balleaniz islands. Lets say the three southernmost remaining, to complete the set in Vogel hands The supplicant was a small, frail-looking figure, standing no more than five feet in height. Its peculiar outer integument had a glossy white sheen, resembling polished ceramic or plastic more than any organic material. The creature stood quivering before the tribunal, blinking its huge mother-of-pearl compound eyes, which glistened in its beach ball-sized head. Jeff listened to the conversations, frowning as he pieced together the fragments of information he overheard. He was slowly starting to build a hypothesis about the setup in Tantalus, one which had serious implications for the entire Tournament. He scrutinized the creatures seriously underpowered stats. NAME: Joh-Quillee RACE: Squinberrel Grade: J HIT POINTS (HP): 60/60 MANA POINTS (MP): 20/20 REWARD: 240 Coins Total Attribute Points (TAP): 142 Shuffling its feet, the feeble-looking creature attempted to bargain with Sharkey, pleading in a nasal, whining voice. Small islands! The creature spluttered in shock. There are millions of people living on that archipelago Please, I beg you Lord Sharkey! Give me at least a year of food credit for each island, and also, I need assurances that my own people on the Tarinn continent will be protected Gaining confidence, the pale creature continued, and I want a com-link token thrown in. With a sinking sensation, the penny finally dropped. Jeff realized from the content of the conversation what the setup in the Crystal Citadel wasSickeningly, these World Champions were bartering away segments of their planetary populations to extend their own survival. Divide and Conquer. An age-old, tried and tested tactic employed by wannabe empire-builders since the dawn of time Jeff thought about it some more, his mind racing with the implications, and he realized that the Contestants couldnt be wholly condemned for their actions. Beyond the blatant self-preservation, there was a deeper, more altruistic factor at play. By prolonging their existences on Tantalus, they were attempting to delay the inevitablethe complete subjugation or annihilation of their species. But Jeff wondered, if by some miracle a Contestant managed to progress from Tantalus, navigate through the subsequent rounds of the Tournament and secure their species entry into the Prime League, would the Vogels ever return the ceded territory? He doubted it. Sharkey smiled widely, revealing long, decidedly ungoatlike incisors. Despite the jovial soundingchortle that escaped from his mouth, there was no warmth in his voice, only malice. You are hardly in a position to make demands, my friend. Unless you have somehow managed to improve your attributes since last we spoke Sharkey made a show of studying the poor aliens stats, which were pathetic even to Jeffs eyes. How had the physically weak-looking alien made it through the training phase and the mountain ascent? Suspicion grew as he recalled his grim battle with the hordes of goblins in the combat mini-dungeon. Something didnt add up. Abruptly Sharkey discarded his amicable pretense. Grunting, he sat up from his reclined position, tightly gripping the glimmering edges of the cauldron on the table before him as he spoke. Pitiful Still an utter weakling, I see. The SquinberrelThough through some ridiculous bureaucratic oversight you have managed to avoid being placed on the Register of Proscribed Species Sharkey paused briefly, casting a pointed look at the red-skinned Ejdar beside him. The Ejdar kept his head down, busying himself at his console, refusing to engage. We all know what you truly are, Sharkey continued, his voice laden with contempt. Walk though you do on two legs, like us, you are merely a disgusting sub-species of the insect world. Youre highly fortunate the Vogels dont treat you like the bugs you really are and exterminate the lot of you. Retrenka, the Undead representative, added nothing to the conversation, the hooded figure staring impassively at the dejected Contestant. Jeff recalled from his conversations with the Bone Baron that while the Sempiternal Empire was not as actively hostile to insectoids as their Vogel allies, they had little interest in engaging with them. Invertebrates, for some reason, did not make good candidates for conversion to the ranks of the Undead. Eliciting no response from the quivering white-shelled creature before him, Sharkey sighed theatrically. Shaking his head in mock disappointment, he gripped the edges of the cauldron firmly and activated its function, with devastating effect. A single rune etched into the side of the device began to glow ominously. Simultaneously, the brand mark seared into the creatures domed forehead ignited, flaring to life, the rune pulsing and blazing a deep fiery red as its link with the cauldron was activated. An uncomfortable droning sound, almost beyond the range of hearing emanated from the cauldron as it operated, adding to the oppressive atmosphere on the terrace. The effect on Joh-Quillee was catastrophic. He let out a high-pitched shriek and slumped to his knees, his face contorted in a rictus of unbearable agony. Jeff, with the heightened awareness supplied by [Mana Essence], discerned the red-tinged particles of what he assumed to be pure Pain mana, now actively flowing back along the link connecting the slumped Contestant to Sharkey and the magical cauldron. Paying close attention, Jeff noted that Sharkey seemed to be actively feeding on the Pain mana, absorbing a portion of it as it was produced by the steadily burning brand on Joh-Quillees forehead. Excess energy appeared to transfer from the rim of the cauldron into Sharkeys fingers. Jeff observed that the cauldrons MP storage had risen to over 7000 points as a result of the transfer. With another pass of his hand over the now steaming cauldron, Sharkey deactivated its function. The rune on Joh-Quillees forehead ceased glowing, leaving the pitiful creature a sobbing wreck on the floor. Now, lets try again shall we? quipped Sharkey, renewing the negotiations with a sardonic grin. What a dick Jeff thought to himself as he watched. Chapter Thirty-Seven鈥擜 Game of Risk Hours passed as Jeff remained seated on the bench beside the other prisoners, watching the proceedings. The subsequent inquisitions and show trials were a crash-course on the brutal realities of Tantalus. Sharkeys M.O. soon became painfully obviousto mercilessly exploit the Contestants within his little fiefdom. He utilised various methods to extract value from his subjects: forcibly ceding their territories to his masters, the Vogels, converting them into cultivation resources, harvesting Pain mana through the runic connections between them and the cauldron, or utilising their entertainment value in his infamous fighting pits. Ten more manacled prisoners in the queue ahead of Jeff received similar treatment. The prisoners fell into two broad categories. First, newly arrived Contestants, all ensorcelled by Bonifaks geas, waiting to be interrogated and then branded. Next, there were long-time Tantalus dwellers, all accused of various petty crimes such as taking food from the banquet hall without credit, or failing to pay taxes. These unfortunates were subjected to extended bouts of torture and extortion. Sharkeys thuggish enforcers only dragged them off the battlements when they had been completely humiliated and their continued compliance was assured. One poor wretch was not so fortunate. A starved-looking batrachian, his skin hanging loosely on his frame, was singled out for the ultimate punishment. This third time loser had long since lost any remaining cachet with Sharkey. Visibly too weak for the fighting pits, he appeared almost catatonic, no doubt affected by starvation and constant torture. Bereft of any remaining territory on his home-world to cede, he was selected as a grim example. At a signal from the goat headed leader, the assembled soldiers around the battlements began to chant ritualistically, summoning their troll sergeant. Hazinarr! Hazinarr! Hazinarr! The cry went up, echoing across the battlements, the soldiers rhythmically stomping their boots and beating their swords against their shields. Each syllable of Hazinarrs name reverberated across the hot, night air. The brutish troll duly appeared, stepping out through the same doorway Jeff had entered. Hazinarr strode onto the terrace with a sinister ''shit-eating'' grin plastered across his wide face. The troll had swapped out the large axe he had been holding in the bailey below, opting instead for a huge war-hammer equipped with a claw-like spike on one side. Its dark metallic head was studded with rivets, ominously encrusted with dried, dark blood. Dragging the war-hammer along the flagstones, Hazinarr crossed the terrace at a slow, theatrical pace, savoring every step. The sharp spike at the end of the weapon scraped against the stone floor, creating a disconcerting sound, like fingernails on a chalkboard, as he deliberately drew out the moment. He approached the slumped, hopeless looking toad-man, standing facing him with a gloating sneer. Hoisting the massive war-hammer above his head with a two-handed grip, he suspended the ominous black metal-headed weapon in the air directly over his victim. To Jeff, the creatures mottled features seemed to bear a forlorn but noble expression it appeared he had become resigned to his fate. Towering over the kneeling batrachian, the troll activated a Skill, causing a yellow nimbus to flare briefly around his head and upper torso. Jeff toggled [Mana Essence] and observed with fascination the intricate pattern of mana trails flowing out from the trolls Core and into his upper body, coursing through his energy highways and along his shoulders and arms. Jeff was able to make out a complex rune, forming above the trolls headone he recognised from his studies as the symbol for Growth. Jeff observed the trolls already burly physique expand visibly, the muscles layering his entire upper body almost doubling in size as the Growth mana flowed through them. With his mana sense active he felt a massive buildup of power begin to coagulate around the hulking troll, streamers of energy blazing around his meridians. The display of raw power was designed to intimidate, the trolls enhanced might becoming the focal point of the terrace. The waves of power surged through Hazinarrs arms, building in intensity, until with a sudden snap, like a circuit breaker flipping, the energy was abruptly released. The hammer dropped, its motion so meteoric it appeared almost instantaneous. At the same time, the head of the trolls war-hammer seemed to swell, expanding to encompass the entire footprint of the kneeling batrachian. A massive shockwave ripped across the terrace, a thunderous crack of released energy blasting out over the battlements and echoing away from the Citadel. Jeff felt sure that had the castle been constructed in a traditional Earthly style, from mundane brick or stone, the entire structure would have collapsed under the sheer force of the impact. Jeff blinked away the afterimages of the energy release imprinted on his retinas and scanned the area for any sign of the toad-man. But there was nothing left to find. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Hazinarrs hammer-drop Skill had utterly obliterated the unfortunate creature. The troll, smirking in satisfaction, hefted the enormous hammer back up into a ready position against one shoulder, revealing nothing more than a thin smear on the flagstonesa two-dimensional silhouette of the toad-man in his final, tragic pose. The victim had been completely pancaked by the impact. Sickening applause and cheers rang out from the audience of callous soldiers. Theres no kill like overkill, declared Hazinarr with relish, his sadistic grin widening. Finally, it was Jeffs turn. Uiro-ku ordered him to stand, and he was marched down the length of the terrace towards the three seated figures. As he passed, Jeff noted the positions of the ten armed and armor-clad soldiers standing against the walls lining either side of the space. Surreptitiously, he eyed their stats and began to formulate an escape route, should things go south. Hazinarr stood to one side, leaning against the haft of his war-hammer and glowering at him. Once again, Jeff felt that same visceral dislike for the troll rise to the fore. Gazing down at him from the raised dais, the three seated figures scrutinised Jeff as he approached. He in turn peered back at them, keeping his face muscles slack and devoid of expression, mouth slightly ajar, maintaining his ensorcelled facade. His attributes are high, sir, the Ejdar leaned in and murmured quietly in Sharkeys ear. Thanks to his [Covert Surveillance] Skill, Jeffs newly heightened hearing was able to pick up the whispered conversation. The Undead emissary sat up straighter in their chair and peered at Jeff, their interest obviously piqued. Strong, I like that purred Sharkey. He turned to Retrenka. Fresh blood! Not the usual genetic garbageHe would be a welcome addition to our fighting pits. Retrenka, veiled eyes under their cowl still fixed firmly on Jeff, responded slowly, in a distinctly feminine voice. I sense a confluence of Fate surrounding this one Glogly Sector Command has expressed special interest in this case, sir, interjected Leypal. The Ejdar, who was busy consulting his console, continued paraphrasing the information scrolling across his screen. Advent of this subjects planetary integration is set to occur within around two weeks. Scans show that System subsumption will convert the planeterm.. He broke off to scroll through the console some more, err Earth into a Rare-Tier Grade C planet. Retrenka and Sharkey exchanged surprised glances for a moment, their attention flickering back to reappraise Jeff speculatively once more. He desperately attempted to maintain his befuddled facade, whilst trying to process the vitally important information being presented. Leypal looked up from his screen, turning to face Sharkey directly. I have just received a DM from Mahalathmy clan brother, the one overseeing the mountain training grounds, he said, his voice tinged with irritation and spite. The Ejdar pointed an accusatory finger at Jeff, his eyes narrowing. Hes demanding financial compensation from this one for destroying the mountain. Apparently, he used some sort of mana-manipulation technique that destabilized the energy levels on the summit Whats more the Ejdar continued, his nose buried once again in his screen, a personal note from the office of Satrap Osmius himself, appended to the file. It seems Our Lord of Pain has taken a personal interest in these humans. Initial scans show them to be a species with a rich emotional culture and a sensorium much suited to hispredilections Jeff didnt like the sound of that, not one bit. More whispered conversation ensued between the three, mostly gossip and conjecture concerning Satrap Osmiuss mana experiments, whispers of torture and enslavementa program that apparently stretched across the whole sector and had led to the genocide and destruction of countless species. The more Jeff overheard, the darker his mood became. He was desperate to get a warning back home, somehow. It seemed that Earths integration into the System universe would inevitably lead to huge upheaval, which the Vogels were apparently planning to capitalise on. But Jeff knew that his number one priority, of course, was to stay alive and get through to the Elimination Rounds. He resolved to keep calm and stifle any angry exclamations, standing mutely on the spot, awaiting an opportunity. Unfortunately it was at that moment that his luck ran out. A sudden shout rang out from the entrance to the terraceJeff recognised the voice of the Stygian Elf, Bonifak, calling angrily across the top of the castle as he rushed towards the dais. Thats the one who defeated my geas! He should have been restrained! In response to the elfs alert, Hazinarr grimaced and strode quickly over to Jeff. Brushing past the Wolfen soldier, he laid a meaty palm on Jeffs shoulder. Were not expecting any trouble here, are we? He growled menacingly in Jeffs ear. Jeff stiffened, tensing up. By this point, Bonifak had arrived, panting, to stand in front of the council of three, where he paused a moment to catch his breath after the long climb up the stairs. Hes the one I told you about, he addressed Hazinarr after nodding respectfully to Sharkey. Couldnt get the compulsion to hold. Him and that spider friend of his Jeff tensed further at the mention of Fracta, but continued to keep silent, biding his time. Well, well! Not quite so docile after allYoure not attempting to trick us, are you? Sharkey queried, his jovial tone belied by the hard glint in his amber eyes. The trolls grip on Jeffs shoulder tightened. Normally at this stage, prior to branding Sharkey paused briefly to lovingly caress the edges of the cauldron before continuing. we would offer Contestants such as yourself a choice. In return for certain concessions, you have the option of joining the rest of the elite in the Citadel, where you will be allocated one of the luxurious guest rooms, given access to fine dining in the banquet hall, as well as various other free entertainments and pastimes. The alternative is life back over there, Sharkey gestured dismissively over the ramparts, in the direction of Tantalus Town, where you take your chances with the rest of the general population. Turning to the Ejdar, Leypal, Sharkey barked a question. Satisfactory first tribute for Our Lord? Leypal consulted his console once more before replying. A southern landmass, one called Australia by the natives, should sufficiently address the starting requirements. Australia? Jeffs mind flashed back to childhood memoriesplaying a strategy board game, where he attacked other players pieces scattered across a map of Earth. The eventual destruction of rival armies led to the winner achieving total world domination. Now, Jeff felt like he was a player in a similar game, for real territory, but without any armies to back him up. Raising his head to address the group, Jeff decided to play it cool and fish for more information before making his move. Thank you for the gracious offer, but I would prefer not to hang around too long here in Tantalus. Could you direct me to the exit portal please? I plan to enter the Tournament Elimination Rounds immediately. His request was greeted with a moment of stunned silence. Then Sharkey began to laugh, a strange goat-like bleating sound that echoed across the battlements. The laughter quickly spread to the assembled soldiers and soon the entire terrace was practically doubled over in mirth. Hazinarr guffawed loudly and simultaneously squeezed Jeffs shoulder with his massive, baseball mitt-sized hand, deliberately grinding the joints together in his vise-like grip. The only person who did not join in the laughter was Retrenka. The Undead emissary remained silent, her obscured features cocked to one side, cooly analysing Jeff with an unwavering gaze. By the way, Jeff continued, pretending not to notice the laughter. have you seen my friend Fracta? We were planning on moving on to the Elimination Rounds together. Sharkey continued to chuckle, making a show of wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. HaHaWe will have much fun together, Earth-man! Unfortunately your request to leave Tantalus is denied. Access to the Elimination Rounds has been temporarily closed due to a technical issue with the link. We estimate repairs will take at least another five to ten years. Sharkey continued, his tone shifting, growing darker and more menacing. As for your friend, the spider that vermin has already been judged and found lacking, Im afraid. He shifted on his couch, glowering at Jeff. His amber eyes narrowing to sinister slits. You should choose your traveling companions more wisely, dear Jeff. Associating with genetic garbage on the Register of Proscribed Species can be seriously detrimental to your overall chances in the Tournament. Jeff stood straighter, his muscles tensing against Hazinarrs restraining grip. What have you done with her? He demanded angrily, his voice rising with barely contained fury. All pretence of civility now vanished, Sharkey glared back at him, his expression darkening still further. Why Jeff, Im surprised you havent already noticed. Your bug friend has been right here all along. Turn around and see! Chuckles broke out amongst the assembled soldiery once again. Hazinarr, the brutish troll, chortled and swung his arm across Jeffs back, pulling him to face in the opposite direction, towards the entrance to the terrace. Jeff allowed himself to be propelled around, a dark sense of foreboding rising in his chest. Turning to face the doorway and the battlements beside it, Jeff initially saw nothing amiss. But then he raised his head. Next to the terrace towered another of the spindly, steeple-like structures Jeff had noted earlier. As his eyes rose inexorably up the side of the pointed column, he was faced with an awful sight. There, high above the assembled court, hung Fracta. Crucified. Chapter Thirty-Eight鈥擬ano a Trollo Jeff stared in horror at the sightFractas limbs were grotesquely splayed out, nailed to the structure of the building, just below the turret of the tower. Her head and abdomen hung limply, her pedipalps carrying the full weight of her body. JeffRun! Get out of thereSave yourself Fractas words whispered faintly in his head, their connection via the RemoteTalk bangle on his wrist flaring briefly. Simultaneously, he saw her head twitch slightly, confirming that she was still alive. The wave of relief he felt on hearing her voice was immediately swamped by a rising tide of murderous rage, oscillating and building in intensity within his chest. Jeff finally felt something snap inside of him, the cheerful persona he had so carefully maintained throughout his ordeal crumbling, replaced by something darker, more primal. Steeling himself for battle, Jeff forced himself to turn his back on Fracta, addressing Sharkey once more while remaining acutely aware of Hazinarrs looming presence by his side. Release her immediately, Jeff struggled to keep his voice steady. We dont want any trouble. Let her go and well head straight for the exit portal. Laughter erupted again from the soldiers around the terrace, and Sharkey launched into another fit of his weird bleat-like giggling. This time, the Ejdar joined in the communal merriment. Even the emissary from the Sempiternal Empire looked vaguely surprised, her shadowed eyes widening beneath her cowl. Ohhohohooyouve got balls boy, Ill give you that, but I think you need to be taken down a peg or two. Sharkeys tone sharpened as he barked out a stentorian command to the massive troll. Teach him some respect for his betters, Scafulan warrior! Gladly, replied Hazinarr, the irritating grin still plastered across his face. Turning to the assembled soldiers he added sidelong, Though hes so puny I dont know whether to fight him or fuck him More gales of laughter erupted at the trolls crude comment. Jeff ignored the jibe and took a few paces back, allowing the simmering rage to rise to the surface, fueling his aggression. Despite the red mist partially clouding his judgement, he still had the presence of mind to keep track of the Wolfen guard, Uiro-ku, holding his all-important Storage Ring. The hirsute soldier had joined his comrades loitering around the edge of the terrace, eager for the upcoming fight. You going to fight me man to man, or do you need that hammer? Jeff asked evenly, maintaining unwavering eye contact with the troll. The tactic worked. Hazinarr shrugged and stored the war-hammer away in his ring. I could turn you into Kitfo with my hands tied behind my back, earth-man sneered the troll, striding towards Jeff, his massive fists clenched, eyes glittering with malicious anticipation. Misty chose that precise moment to pipe up. Erm, Jeff, I dont mean to alarm you, but your projected chances of surviving the next ten minutes are estimated at less than one percent Jeff took a deep breath, steadfastly ignoring the irritating AI. He calmed his mind, coldly studying the onrushing troll. Hazinarr was undoubtedly endowed with massive Strength and Vitality, likely with high levels of Endurance and Offense as well The Skill he had displayed earlier during the brutal execution of the toad-man had temporarily increased his Strength even further. The only silver lining for Jeff was that the Skill seemed to take time to activate, providing Jeff with some advanced warning. Whatever other Skills the troll possessed remained unclear. Jeff reckoned his only chance of victory, his sole edge over the powerful foe bearing down on him, was his superior Speed. He decided to use it to the fullest and maintain a healthy distance, avoiding the trolls clutches at all costs. Ducking under Hazinarrs outstretched arms, Jeff executed a spinning leg sweep, lashing out with his foot to strike the trolls calf. The result was extremely disappointing. It felt as though hed kicked an immovable bollard, the dense, layered muscle padding the trolls massive leg absorbing the impact. A dull pain radiated through Jeffs foot, despite the recent fortifications from the bone tempering bath.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Even so, Hazinarrs charge was stalled. Grunting slightly in pain, he took a step back, his eyes narrowing as he reappraised Jeff. You have struck your opponent a glancing blow, dealing 5 damage Not so puny the troll muttered under his breath, a grudging acknowledgement that Jeffs kick had registered. Jeff again went on the offensive, rushing forward and launching himself fully into the air. Airborne, he flew towards the surprised troll, striking out with a hand blade strike to the sergeants exposed neck as he passed. He concentrated on the concept of Sundering, channeling his Dao, and simultaneously activated [Cutting Edge] along the length of his arm. Though the Skill-empowered blow lacked the potency to slice through the troll''s thick, hide-like skin, it still inflicted serious damage, mashing the more delicate bones and cartilaginous tissue in his neck. Hazinarr stumbled back, wheezing and clutching his throat in pain. Murmurs erupted from the assembled soldiers as they saw their sergeant being bested. A ripple of unease passed around the terrace. You have struck your target with a piercing strike. You have critically injured your opponent. Your Offense Attribute has risen by 1 Hazinarr immediately activated a Skill, causing a dense cloud of energy to form and swirl in the air around him. With his [Mana Essence] Skill active, Jeff could clearly perceive the emergence of a powerful rune, manifesting in the air above the trolls head. The fractal-like symbol shone like polished gold, resonating brilliantly with the essence of Health and well-being. Streamers of raw mana surged from Hazinarrs meridian points up into the rune, reinforcing the radiant symbol and solidifying it still further. Simultaneously, a soft golden glow emanated from the fractal Health rune, bathing Hazinarr in a rejuvenating spotlight. His health bar, which had been reduced by half by Jeffs attack, rapidly began to climb back upwards. Jeff reached a grim conclusion: Hazinarr was, in fact, some kind of Cultivator, gifted with advanced control over his Core Space and pathways, perhaps even at a comparable level to Jeff''s. His hideous Strength and Vitality, combined with the rapid regenerative healing provided by his Cure Skill could pose significant problems. The Scafulan warrior, straightened up, all his injuries thaumaturgically healed. The Health rune hanging in the air above him flickered and dissipated, its work complete. Once again, that infuriating grin returned to his face. Is that all youve got, earth-man? He sneered, advancing once again. Jeff let rip with a brilliant blue bolt of energy, courtesy of [Mana Burst], striking the troll directly in the center of his armored chest. The results were disappointing. The blue fireball impacted against the ringed jerkin but failed to penetrate the high quality armor Sharkeys second-in-command was outfitted with. The troll kept advancing, the blue sparks of electricity still harmlessly dancing around his torso. I grow wearied with this spectacle, Hazinarr, bleated Sharkey from his chaise longue, his tone dripping with disdain. Subdue this fool and bring him to me for branding. With pleasure, sir, responded the troll, his grin widening. He rapidly crossed the space between them. Jeff jumped vertically, throwing a jab aimed directly at the trolls face, hoping to wipe away the annoying grin. Hazinarr moved his head to the side at the last moment, his movements deceptively fast. Jeffs fist grazed the side of the trolls boney skull, the impact largely dissipated. A spearhead strike with pointed fingers, aimed once more at Hazinarrs throat, was similarly deflected. The troll was now within grasping distance, his shovel-sized hands bearing down. Jeff narrowly managed to duck out of the way to avoid being grabbed. In desperation, Jeff launched a rapid flurry of blows aimed at the trolls midriff. Despite the intensity and speed of his attacks, they seemed to have little effect on the trolls muscle-clad torso. Hazinarr merely grunted, absorbing each hit stoically, his infuriating grin unwavering. Jeff continued to dodge and weave, hindering the trolls attempts to pin him down, while at the same time attempting to land hits on his seemingly impenetrable target. He managed to land a couple of solid body blows, eliciting a wince from the troll, but his evasion tactics eventually failedHazinarr got within range, and Jeff was forced to grapple. In the end, Hazinarr encircled Jeff with his huge arms, gripping him tightly in a constrictive bear hug. Jeff struggled frantically but was unable to free himself from the trolls powerful embrace. Lifting him into the air, the troll held Jeff against his chest, squeezing with relentless force. Jeff felt his enhanced skeletal structure creak and groan under the pressure. Bracing himself, he attempted to endure the onslaught. Jeffs newly constructed skeleton proved to be a tougher nut to crack than Hazinarr had expected. Grunting in annoyance, the giant exerted even more pressure, his gigantic biceps swelling like huge fleshy balloons. Jeff felt his ribcage groan in protest and his vision began to darken around the edges, but his reinforced Iron Body continued to maintain its integrity under the crushing onslaught. The troll, losing patience, triggered his Growth Skill, the strength and pressure exerted by his pumped-up arms increasing as the rune started to form above his head. Seizing the opportunity, Jeff closed his eyes and reached out with [Mana Essence], targeting his opponent with the Skill. Visualizing the mana running down from the Growth rune above Hazinarrs head and back through his body, he charted the surging currents, forming a heat map in his minds eye. As more data flowed in, he assessed the movement of energy around Hazinarrs body and through his Core Space, sensing the ebb and flow, the strengths and weaknesses. With his MP at less than half capacity, Jeff had held off on deploying [Mana Burst] again, after the previous desultory result. This time, armed with fresh intel, he decided to make use of the Skill in a more focused way. He activated the Lightning Storm variant, sending a concentrated trickle of focused power gushing straight into the trolls unprotected arms. The effect was immediate. Hazinarrs muscles spasmed uncontrollably as the lightning cascaded into him, the discharge infiltrating his body and subverting the flow of Growth mana streaming from the rune above his head. Jeff meticulously managed the flow, sending probing tendrils of damaging energy around the trolls meridians, disrupting his pathways. Hazinarr jerked as if stung, his vice-like grip weakening slightly, allowing Jeffs lungs to gulp in a much-needed breath of air. Now confident that his tactic was effective, Jeff channeled more power into the Skill, amplifying the effect still further. As Hazinarrs pathways became increasingly compromised, he groaned, freezing in place, his huge muscles spasming uncontrollably. The partially formed Growth rune above the trolls head flickered and sputtered, the fractal pattern distorting and warping before winking out. You have immobilized a Grade I Scafulan Troll with your [Mana Burst] Skill Released from the trolls bear-hug, Jeff dropped to the floor, but continued to maintain the steady flow of debilitating energyapproximately one MP per secondinto the paralyzed troll before him. Thinking swiftly, Jeff realized that killing his monstrous opponent in a fair fight was not feasible, especially without any physical weapons at hand. The best course of action was to remove him from the fray so he could focus on the remaining forces ranked against him. Maintaining the flow of paralyzing energy, Jeff executed a heel-hook, bringing the troll to his knees, then, reaching down, he got a good grip on the massive warrior and hoisted him over his shoulder in a firefighters lift. Staggering under the considerable weight, Jeff tottered towards the nearby battlements, keeping [Mana Burst] active, the trickle of Lightning Storm energy continuing to stream into the troll. With one final herculean effort, He lifted Hazinarr above his head before unceremoniously throwing him over the edge. Enjoy the view on the way down, asshole Jeff grunted. Hazinarrs still immobile form plummeted down the side of the Citadel, clattering noisily into the bailey below. Chapter Thirty-Nine鈥擲harkey鈥檚 Troops You have critically injured your target For a moment, both Hazinarrs ignominious departure from the terrace and Jeffs impromptu catchphrase were greeted with shocked silence. Then, Sharkey, finally roused from his recumbent position, stood and bellowed in rage across the terrace. Guards! Kill him! Meanwhile, Jeff hadnt stood idle. The moment Hazinarr was dispatched, he turned and sprinted towards the stunned soldiers gathered along the ramparts. Amidst the chaos that had engulfed the terrace, he saw an opportunitya chance to regain what was rightfully his. His target, the Wolfen, stood gaping at him, dumbfounded alongside his comrades. Time seemed to slow down. Jeff concentrated on his Dao, empowering his progress across the terrace, slicing past the assembled soldiery towards Uiro-ku, who by now had his sword half-drawn from its sheath. Not giving him a chance to react, Jeff closed the remaining distance and barreled into the wolf-man, the force of his impact knocking both of them to the ground. Spurning the need of a Skill, Jeff pulled his right arm back and drove his clenched fist directly into Uiro-kus face, smashing his snout to a bloody pulp and instantly knocking him unconscious. Acutely aware of the now roused soldiers approaching him on all sides, Jeff quickly rifled through the Wolfens pockets. Right pants pocketright pants pocket but the ring wasn''t there. He continued searching feverishly for what felt like an age before his frantically questing fingers closed over the Storage Ring, which had inexplicably moved to Uiro-kus left pants pocket. Slipping the ring onto his finger, Jeff rolled away from the Wolfens prostrate form and the onrushing wave of soldiers. Despite his quick movement, he couldnt completely avoid a sword thrust aimed at his shoulder. The point of the blade struck the very top of his shoulder blade, but the toughened blue-tinged bone absorbed most of the impact resulting in minimal tissue damage. Rolling further along the edge of the terrace, Jeff gained enough distance from the disorganized scrum of soldiers to get back on his feet. He quickly equipped himself with a light cuirass, his steel bladed gauntlets, and Leech. He opted to forgo head protection or greaves, prioritizing instead his full range of vision and unrestricted movement. Despite the throbbing pain from the newly acquired flesh wound in his shoulder, his confidence was boosted significantly by the comforting weight of his sword in his hand. Letting loose with [Infinite Sword] at close proximity to the mob of approaching soldiers, Jeff unleashed a flurry of invisible blades that inflicted multiple cuts and lacerations on the front rank. The unexpected Skill-based attack elicited screams and yells of surprise, their advance faltering under the unexpected onslaught. Baring his teeth he shouted aggressively at the onrushing soldiers. Eat a bag of dicks, shitheads A strikingly attractive, leather-clad woman with bright red hair and glowing green eyes let loose with a fire-based offensive Skill, sending a sheet of orange flames gusting towards Jeff. The blast of roasting, incandescent gas billowed around him, igniting his clothes and scorching his skin and hair. Fortuitously, at that very moment, another approaching caster unleashed a Skill harnessing Ice mana, enveloping Jeff in a subzero cloud of frozen airthe two Skills mostly countering each other out, the chilling blast quenching the scorching flames, extinguishing the fire on his clothes and cooling his burnt skin. Jeff laughed out loud at the absurdity of it all. This obviously frustrated a more senior soldier standing at the back, who furiously yelled orders, trying to marshal his fellows uncoordinated attack. Jeff strode forward and delivering a gauntlet strengthened uppercut to the redheads chin. The force of the blow launched her backwards, crashing into and knocking over two more of her comrades. They struggled desperately to disentangle themselves from the unconscious woman, their movements frantic. You have critically injured your target Jeff stood over the three, stomping and axe-kicking the twitching enemy pile into oblivion. Achievement! You have inflicted heavy damage on three Grade J Contestants Your Offense Attribute has risen by 1 Congratulations! Your Combat Proficiency Skill has now reached Level 9 You have been awarded a new Sub-Skill: [Fight Pattern-Mapping] Level 1 Play your enemies like a game of nine-dimensional chessYou are able to predict your opponents moves in advance Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 922 Whirling around, Jeff raised Leech just in time, parrying a Skill-empowered spear thrust from a heavyset dwarf-like humanoid, clearly a denizen of a high-gravity planet judging by his large muscle mass. The black metallic tip of the dwarfs ash spear glowed with a baleful light, indicating the weapon was imbued with some type of curse. Stepping inside the dwarfs reach, Jeff used Leech for the first time on a real living creature, thrusting the length of the sword through a gap in his opponents armor, straight into his armpit, the blades point exiting messily from the side of the dwarfs neck. You have Successfully Killed a World Champion, Grade J Reward: 25 Omega Energy Points Leech signaled its approval, humming happily in his grip. Jeff felt the sword extracting a portion of the dying mans life force, a glowing thread of mana siphoning back up through their symbiotic connection, replenishing his dwindling MP reserves slightly. He was surprised and pleased to see that his HP also ticked up several points. Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 923 Tournament Reward: 270 Coins Out of the corner of his eye, Jeff glimpsed more soldiers rushing onto the terrace, their numbers bolstering the already formidable forces gathering against him. An arrow shot down from a window set in one of the spindly steeples overlooking the terrace, forcefully striking his cuirass and knocking him backwards from the impact. Jeff reacted instinctively, channeling a concentrated [Mana Burst] fireball straight back at the archer. His target practice in the Dungeon paid off as the condensed bolt of energy hit the figure squarely in the face, neutralizing them from the fight. By now, Jeff was in the thick of it, parrying sword and spear thrusts from all directions, and being progressively boxed in by the onrushing soldiers. Another sword lunge got through his defenses, the Skill-empowered blade punching through his steel cuirass and penetrating his lower right abdomen, narrowly missing his liver and any major blood vessels. Although technically just a flesh wound, the hit threatened to take the wind out of his sails, but he gritted his teeth and powered through the pain. The blow had caused Jeff to drop Leech, the sword kicked some distance away by the boots of surrounding enemy soldiers. Now, Jeff found himself facing an enemy martial artisthis fists and feet a blur as they landed rapid strikes on Jeff before he could react. The man was so limber it was as though his bones didnt existwhen Jeff managed to lock him in a clinch, the rubber man effortlessly slipped from his grasp.Stolen story; please report. Focusing on the flow of energy through the mans body, Jeff concentrated on his exposed pressure points, landing a series of precise acupressure strikes that disrupted the fighters pathways. The man staggered back, blinking in confusion, struggling to summon the strength for another attack. Dont bother, you are already dead, Jeff said somberly, watching with [Mana Essence] as the disrupted pathways finally released their pent-up energy in the only way they couldthrough the mans head. The loud bang as his cranium exploded echoed across the terrace, causing several of the onrushing soldiers to hesitate, rethinking their attack. You have killed an I Grade World Champion Reward: Two Omega Energy Points Tournament Reward: 370 Coins Jeff was suddenly engulfed in a noisome, nausea-inducing purple fog, the cloying, fetid gas sweeping over him and sticking to his skin. Rendered blind by the attack, he toggled [Mana Essence] and saw he was at the epicenter of a thick plume of pure Poison mana, emanating from a grey-cloaked mage standing to the side of Sharkeys forces, a large leather-bound tome in hand. The mage intoned rhythmically, uttering a guttural series of alien sounds. Haba alak, Makblax, Rengii, Nu He, or she, was clearly chanting, reading from the foul book in their hands, summoning an indigo-colored rune that hovered malignantly in the air above them. This loathsome rune was the source of the poisonous stream billowing relentlessly towards Jeff. Warning! You have been poisoned. Warning! Your HP is low. Congratulations! Your Poison Resistance Skill has now reached Level 2 Jeff swiftly pulled Shadars Tooth from his ring, activating the ranged weapon with the required ten MP. For good measure, he imbued it with [Cutting Edge], then with a fluid movement, he flung the glowing shuriken across the terrace, aiming directly at the grey-cloaked enchanter. You have critically injured your target Jeff couldnt wait around to observe the outcome of his throw because he sensed a hostile presence overhead. He ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding a lethal talon-strike aimed at his neck. The steel-tipped talons, instead, left a vicious gash on his unprotected forehead. Blood dripping down from the cut colored his vision with a reddish tinge. The cloaked avian he had previously encountered at the portal wheeled overhead, large brown wings spread as it circled for another attack. At that moment, Shadars Tooth, having successfully slit the throat of the enchanter, returned to Jeff. On its return trajectory, it made a slight detour, clipping the wing of the avian. The creature tumbled, squawking in surprise, past the terrace and off into the night, spiraling out of control. You have critically injured your target Jeff snatched the slowly spinning shuriken out of the air and deftly stowed it back in his Storage Ring. Spying Leech on the floor nearby he bent to pick it up. A familiar voice rang out across the terrace, causing Jeff to jerk around in surprise. Inexplicably, there, facing him across the battlefield, was his Aunt Zara, a frumpy late middle-aged woman dressed in knitwear and sensible shoes, glowering at him. Aunt Zara had ruled over his nieces and nephews with an iron fist during family vacations and gatherings. Jeff had often been the recipient of her strict methods of discipline during his childhood. Jeff felt his thought processes slow down, a mental fog of subservience and obedience creeping over him. Now listen to me! Listen to me Jeff faltered, stunned at the bizarre sight. His sword loosened in his grip. Jeffrey Nostro. Now cease this nonsense immediately. Youve been extremely disobedient his aunt ordered, slowly approaching to stand before him. Drop the sword, and everything will be alright. Ive got a glass of milk and a plate of your favorite cookies in my purse. Without fully comprehending why, he felt an urge to reach into his Storage Ring and equip himself with his Cloak of Distraction. The protective robe tightening around his shoulders immediately. The mental confusion lifted to reveal none other than the sweaty features of the dark elf, Bonifak standing before him, the yellow halo of a mental Skill sputtering and winking out above him. Achievement! You have successfully evaded a psi-attack! A hostile entity has failed to control your will! Your Cognition Attribute has risen by 1 Fool me once Jeff murmured, running the surprised-looking elf through before he had a chance to lift his own weapon, and earning a respectable 50 Omega Energy Points in the process. Leech drank greedily from the wellspring, transferring ten MP and a much-needed 5 HP back to its owner. Jeff felt the blood flowing from his abdominal wound slow to a trickle. You have killed an Grade I World Champion Reward: Two Omega Energy Points Tournament Reward: 390 Coins Facing the onrushing forces, Jeff decided to employ a shock and awe approach. He unleashed a cascading stream of blue fire, Lightning Storm coruscating between seven soldiers simultaneously. The fierce attack halted their advance, but didn''t completely incapacitate them. Their high-Grade armor somehow mitigated the impact, allowing them to withstand the brunt of his assault and recover more quickly than he had hoped. Cursing under his breath, Jeff realized that he was down to the wire with his mana reserves, there simply wasnt enough MP left to fuel another full-scale attack. He switched tactics. Channeling the Dao of Sundering, Jeff focused on sheer physical lethality to counter the masses of soldiers attacking him. With Leech in hand, he sliced through his enemies, stabbing, hacking and cleaving, his sword and gauntlets rending flesh and bone. He kicked and punched relentlessly, shifting from one side of the terrace to the other, refusing to be pinned down. The air around him trembled, transforming into a zone of extreme danger, a maelstrom of violence for anyone unwise enough to cross his path. His eyes blazed with hate as he scanned for his next victim. Congratulations! Your Combat Proficiency Skill has now reached Level 10 Congratulations! Your Dodge Skill has now reached Level 8 Achievement!Your Speed Attribute has risen by 1 Level up! Congratulations. You have reached Level 924 Jeff felt his movements speed up, becoming increasingly fluid as he concentrated on his Dao. The principles of Sundering, as he understood them, aided him in his unstoppable path, usurping the reality of the battlefield around him. Causality seemed to bend to his will as he plowed a grisly furrow through the troops. Each strike felt preordained, inevitable. Almost transcending the restrictions of time, he flickered between targets, radiating an aura of intense lethality. Impatiently, he minimized the constant stream of notifications generated by the System as his Omega Energy, Attributes and Levels were constantly boosted by the intense battle. All the while, he was painfully aware of Fractas pitiful condition, still nailed to the side of the tower above him. Despite Leechs efforts to replenish his dwindling HP with each kill, Jeff soon found himself covered in a tapestry of wounds. Arrows and crossbow bolts rained down around him, launched by more archers who had taken strategic positions in the overlooking towers. Some of the projectiles flew with such velocity they were practically invisible to the naked eye. Jeff grimaced as he ripped out an arrow from his calf, before hastily downing a Potion of Healing. If not for his strong Vitality and Defense attributes, he probably wouldve bled out already. Your HP is low. Less than half remaining. A mage stood to one side of the terrace, manipulating a swarm of greasy black flying beetlesfanged cockroaches with pointed horns and wingssending the cloud directly at Jeffs face. Each one the size of a chicken nugget, the hard shelled pests were surprisingly resilient against his attacks. No matter how ferociously he swatted the buzzing roaches away, their numbers were immediately replenished. Another Contestant used a shape-shifting Skill to transform into a massive dire-wolf, crashing into Jeff and halting his zigzagging progress across the terrace in its tracks. Jeff desperately grappled with the monstrously strong beast, its slavering jaws snapping inches from his throat. Tearing and rending the soft underbelly of the dire-wolf with his bladed gauntlets caused the shape-shifter to lose control of her morphing Skill. She reverted back to her true form, a naked, svelte female figure with raven-black hair, rolling away from Jeff while clutching her bloodied abdomen in agony. You have crippled a Grade I World Champion With the lycanthrope dealt with, Jeff turned his attention to the beast-master controlling the swarm of beetles. However, the man hung back, smirking at Jeff while hiding out of reach behind an impenetrable wall of soldiers, relentlessly manipulating the insects. Their constant bites had turned Jeffs cheeks and neck into a mass of bleeding welts. The pain was constant, each bite burrowing deep into the flesh of his face and scalp. Jeff took a gamble. His raw mana reserves were now completely depleted, but he still had the reservoir of Necrotic Energy stored in his Core Space. He channeled a portion of the slowly revolving ring off the circumference of his mana pool, and exerting his will, imbued the energy with hostile intent as it passed through his Pathways, before spewing it out with Lightening Storm. The [Mana Burst] Sub-Skill had an intensely transformative effect on the Necrotic Energyinstead of the cloud of poisonous fog Jeff had expected, the Skill condensed the composite mana so densely it resembled fire, a cascade of dense, jet black flames which danced and burned across the gathered forces. Jeff made sure to channel the flames through a gap in the soldiers ranks, targeting the beast-master controlling the bugs. The reaction was more extreme than Jeff could have possibly hoped for. The mage, ashen-faced and screaming in horror, died on the spot. With his control over the beetles severed, his bugs fell to the floor at Jeffs feet and wandered aimlessly away. The crowd of armored soldiers around the fallen mage received a lesser, but still effective, dose of the Necrotic Energy. They writhed and screamed in agony as the evil-smelling black flames licked at their exposed flesh, instantly causing nasty pustulant boils to erupt wherever the poisonous energy came into contact. There was another unexpected but awesome side effect of the Necrotic Energyjudging by the soldiers rapidly dwindling stats, Jeff was happy to see that the deathly effect was self-sustaining, the poisonous energy creating a toxic chain reaction within their infected bodies. Their skin turned an unwholesome grey, the color of rancid oatmeal, and hideous black buboes erupted from their necks, groins and armpits, consuming them from the inside with dark rot. Combo! You have killed five World Champions Reward: Fifteen Omega Energy Points Tournament Reward: 1190 Coins Jeff was equal parts horrified and pleased with the effect of his little experiment. I must use whatever ammunition I have at my disposal. I cant afford to be squeamish. Too many lives are at stake He knew without a doubt that the Vogels would laugh at the concepts of honor or chivalry, and it was obvious they did not uphold the tenets of the Geneva Convention. Well, Jeff thought to himself grimly, I can fight dirty too Decided, he reached into his Ring and transferred several more of the Necrotic Energy dungeon drops into his Core Space, replenishing the reservoir for future use. He noted that Retrenka, the Sempiternal Empire emissary, had stepped down from the dais to observe the soldiers agonizing demise. Her cowl was thrown back, more fully exposing her startling features. Humanoid, her chalk white skin contrasted starkly with the thick shock of glossy black spines that grew out of her well proportioned skull, reminiscent of the needle-like quills of a porcupine. Her wide eyes, partially visible through her veil, darted from the writhing soldiers back to Jeff, as she whispered in awe, Such power Chapter Forty鈥擳he Hand of Mu Cephei Sharkey, who had been screaming and cursing at his troops throughout the battle, had fallen ominously silent. He stood over his cauldron, eyes closed, a flickering yellow Skill nimbus beginning to form around him. A sinister fractal rune took shape in the air above his head. Jeff, sensing imminent danger, moved as quickly as he could to close the distance between them. But before he could approach within striking range, the goat-headed alien opened his eyes and raised his hands, fingers splayed out forming a peculiar gesture, akin to a Buddhist mudra. In the air gap formed between his hand seal, a violent spatial rift was torn open, exposing a chaotic void pulsing with darkness. From this dimensional gap, a ripple of something malevolent oozed out, coalescing into a perfectly circular ring of potent, chaotic energy. The ring shot directly across the terrace towards Jeff, expanding as it approached, making it impossible to evade. Completely enveloped by the strange energy pulse, Jeffs world blazed white as intense pain wracked his entire body. He was engulfed in agony, a horrible sensation, like demonic claws rending him inside and out, carving deep gashes in his flesh. An excoriating wave of invisible fire seared his skin, probing and attacking every nerve ending, equal even to his ordeal in the bone tempering bath. Congratulations! Your High Pain Threshold Skill has now reached Level 24 Jeff struggled to stay upright under the withering blast. The anguish generated by Sharkeys Skill was intelligent by design; one second the probing attack stimulated pain across the surface of his skin, before switching to the sensitive nerve endings in his teeth, and then back to the skin, randomly targeting neurons across his body. A lancing, excruciating sensation attacked his legs and knees, the debilitating pulses almost sending him to the floor. The Skill shifted focus, successfully attacking the fingers of his hands, causing him to lose his grip on Leech. The sword clattered to the floor. Sharkey continued to hold his fingers ritually bent in that strange mudra position, the hand seal obviously keeping the gateway to that hellish dimension open. In spite of the blinding veil of agony, using [Mana Essence], Jeff was still able to perceive the symbiotic link between Sharkey and the cauldron at his feet, how Sharkey seemed to be drawing on the reserves of pure Pain mana stored within the device to keep the link alive. As the Skill ramped up, Jeff felt the waves of excoriating agony intensify, caustic inflammation building up in his body, his joints and soft tissue under increasing attack from the corrosive fire. Congratulations! Your High Pain Threshold Skill has now reached Level 25 Jeff straightened, somehow successfully crossing a mental barrier. Its all in my head he gasped, his resistance to the agonizing suffering inflicted by the attack increasing exponentially as his [High Pain Threshold] Skill evolved. Reaching down, he grasped Leechs hilt and glared at Sharkey across the terrace before launching a solid beam of hostile Necrotic Energy directly at the goat-like alien. Disappointingly, as the attack was about to impact Sharkey, a transparent, protective bubble sprang up around hima previously unnoticed dark metallic amulet hanging around Sharkeys furred neck flared into life, automatically activating a defense. The Necrotic Energy blast dissipated harmlessly against the translucent shield. You cant win Sharkey declared, grinning widely and increasing the intensity of his Agony Skill, engulfing Jeff in fresh waves of excruciating pain, once more immobilizing him. By now, even more heavily armed soldiers were flooding onto the terrace, charging towards Jeff, rushing to close the distance between them. Despite his [High Pain Threshold] Skill and overpowered stats, Jeff was suffering badly. The pain inflicted by the myriad of small and not-so-small wounds scattered across his body, coupled with the wracking torment of Sharkeys Agony Skill generated a feeling of exhaustion, an almost overwhelming desire to give up the fight. One last card to playJeff thought to himself grimly. Steeling himself, he attempted to shake off the fog of lethargy and triggered his newly acquired Dao Ability for the first time. A ruby flash of light high in the dark night sky above the Citadel heralded the advent of the Ability. Simultaneously, Jeff was haloed by a bright blue glare, shining blades swirling around him in a brilliant, lethal display. Sevens Shadow!impossible. How can it be? Look out! He has a DAO ABILITY! roared Retrenka, her eyes widening, staring at Jeff in fresh disbelief through her veil. Above the terrace, the perpetual thick brown clouds of Tantalus parted to reveal an alien constellation glaring through. One star in the constellation shone with a particularly baleful red glow, growing brighter and brighter until the crimson light of Mu Cephei blazed down on the terrace below like a million-lumen floodlight. At the very last moment, Jeff decided to alter his tactics, on the fly, changing the intended target of the Ability. The bloody red glow from above intensified further, becoming an almost solid beam, terminating not directly on Sharkey as Jeff had originally planned, but at the glowing cauldron at his feet. The red targeting laser reached a crescendo of power, then a huge mailed fist, the eponymous Hand of Mu Cephei, fell from above with a deafening roar. Jeff tried to make out more detail as the gauntleted fist punched down, but vision still clouded by Sharkeys Agony Skill, he was unable to see much. Even so, he, along with everybody else was acutely aware of an aura of brutal strength emanating from the handa sense that nothing could withstand its powerful, inexorable trajectory. The Hand of Mu Cephei sliced through the thick, humid air and impacted with the glowing cauldron.Stolen novel; please report. The cauldron glowed brightly at the moment of impact. At first, Jeff was concerned that the Peak, Grade G item would withstand the aerial attack, but with an eardrum-bursting sound that was music to Jeffs ears, the runic ritual cauldron cracked down the middle, sending a liquid deluge of raw unrefined Pain energy exploding across the terrace. Sharkey was hurled backwards by the force of the blast, his fingers knocked out of their ritualistic pose, causing the inter-dimensional rift to seal shut. Jeff took a shuddering breath in relief as he was freed from the effects of Sharkeys Agony Skill. Congratulations! As a reward for destroying a Peak, Grade G Item in battle, you have been awarded the Passive Sub-Skill Pain it Forward (Level 1) Following the destruction of the cauldron, everyone on the terrace was at least momentarily overcome by the huge release of raw Pain mana. The crimson semi-liquid swirled and boiled around the battlements chaotically, evaporating rapidly off into the night air, but not before inflicting one last stingthe lower-ranked soldiers were particularly affected by contact with the roiling mana, many convulsing in agony on the ground, their screams filling the air. The torment wracking Jeffs body and the white haze clouding his vision finally lifted, to reveal Sharkey and Leypal making a frantic dash for the exit. Still fired up by all the adrenaline in his system, Jeff bellowed across the terrace at the departing pair. Yeah, youd better run Sharkey. Im coming for you! Retrenka, however, remained rooted to the spot, occupying the same position she had been in throughout the battle, choosing not to engage. She turned to face Jeff, locking eyes with him. Slowly, almost ritualistically, she raised her hands and removed the veil that had concealed her features so far. For the first time, Jeff saw her facestunningly beautiful, yet unnervingly cold. Her skin was deathly pale, almost translucent, starkly contrasted by the limpid grey tone of her eyes. Jeff stared for a moment, transfixed. Her features were so perfect, so serene, that they reminded him of a marble statue he had once seen in an old graveyardan angel eternally guarding a tomb. A great honor. The Vboloex race only reveal their facial features to those they deem to be their equals. Jeff inwardly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the Emissary had no plans to join the battle. Facing a Grade H Undead immediately after all that would probably have done me in. Briefly acknowledging the woman with a nod, he turned to survey the battlefield. He noted with interest that though some of the higher-ranked soldiers had recovered, they were still in a state of mental confusion, clutching their heads and probing the branding scars on their foreheads. The brands have been deactivated. Were free! cried one, sending a ripple of excitement through the remaining ranks. However, some others continued to glare with open hostility at Jeff. It seemed that although Sharkeys magical hold over them had been relinquished, he still commanded a degree of loyalty. Jeff decided it was now or never. Steeling himself, he sprinted full speed across the terrace and leapt off the battlements, slamming viciously against the side of the slender tower. Splayed against the smooth surface, he scrabbled for purchase, attempting to make use of his bladed gauntlets as climbing tools, but he struggled to maintain his position, slowly beginning to slide down the side of the slick tower. Reaching into his inventory ring, he equipped himself with a pair of kunai, slamming the flat, wide blades at the ends of the ninja climbing tools into the grey surface of the tower and arresting his fall. Jeff rested a moment, then painstakingly made his way up the towers side, using more kunai to create a ladder, driving the blades into every available wrinkle and crease in the material of the wall. Fortuitously, there was an opening in the side of the tower directly beside Fracta. Jeff managed to stand precariously on the window ledge, now level with his unconscious partner. Dont look down he thought. He called out Fractas name, but received no response. Though her stats indicated she was still alive, she hung limply, clearly seriously wounded. His attempt to administer a Potion of Healing proved futile; her unconscious state allowed the liquid to trickle uselessly out of her mouth orifice and down the side of the tower. At first, Jeff was unsure how to proceed, seeing no obvious way to detach her from the smooth surface of the building. She hadnt been, as he first assumed, nailed down, but instead, some type of strong adhesive had been used to fix her limbs to the tower. Acting quickly, he slid a knife blade between one of her pedipalps and the wall, carefully prying the limb free. He repeated this meticulous process with each of her legs until she was left dangling by one remaining limb adhered to the tower. Acutely aware of the perilous drop into the murky waters below, Jeff, driven by desperation, formulated the only plan he could think ofswinging her through the window in the towers side. Disconnecting her last limb from its restraint, he exerted all his strength to draw her backwards. The pair collapsed in a heap, landing in a tangled mess on the small rooms floor at the top of the tower. Jeff lay there for a moment, gathering his strength, then lifted Fracta onto his back, staggering under her considerable weight as he hurried towards the stairwell, determined to leave the Citadel as swiftly as possible. Down they went, descending the spiral stairs, until they reached the towers base without incident. Pausing for a moment, Jeff cautiously peered through the door at the base of the stairs, down a long, narrow corridor where he could just make out the bailey. Some sort of commotion was underway. As they approached, it soon became evident that civil war had erupted among Sharkeys forces. The cacophony of clashing blades was punctuated by the crackle of energy discharged by various Skills. Shouts of anger and screams of pain echoed down the corridor. More troubling to Jeff was the distinctive bass rumble of Hazinarrs voice, echoing from one side of the bailey. Jeff cursed the trolls remarkable healing abilities. He had hoped that the tremendous impact of the fall would have kept Hazinarr out of action for much longer. The troll continuously bellowed orders to his faction, his booming voice reverberating across the bailey as he sought to quell the insurrection. From the state of play, it appeared he was succeeding. The rebel troops, disorganized and outmatched, were losing ground. Slowly but surely, they were being pushed into a corner, an uncoordinated rabble facing off against a squad of professional soldiers. The troll revealed another formidable Skill in his arsenal. Casting a group heal spell, the troll sent a shimmering wave of golden light radiating over the battlefield. The lambent glow bathed his soldiers, swiftly healing their wounds and bolstering their HP, significantly enhancing their fighting efficiency. Its now or never Jeff muttered to the unconscious Fracta, not expecting any response. His newly acquired [Covert Surveillance] Skill helped him in analyzing the chaotic battle unfolding before him. He plotted a route through the melee, aiming for the long, crystal and stone corridor that led to the exit. Concentrating on his Stealth attribute, Jeff pulled the Cloak of Distraction tighter around his shoulders. Groaning under the weight of Fracta on his back, he navigated through the warring soldiers, his progress much more ungainly than he would have liked. Nonetheless, he was almost out of the bailey before he was spotted. Stop that man! shouted Hazinarr from across the square, brutally pushing aside his own soldiers to reach Jeff. Fortunately for Jeff, the insurrectionists were positioned directly in front of the corridor entrance, hindering the troll and his troops. Ignoring his exhaustion and the discomfort of his still unhealed wounds, Jeff stoically staggered down the long passage as quickly as he could under the increasingly burdensome weight of Fractas unconscious form, escaping the chaos of the fighting behind him. The sounds of battle diminished as Jeff made his way beneath the inner gatehouse and into the atrium-like space dominated by the large barbican. Just as he was about to continue towards the Citadels entrance, plaintive cries rang out from the Contestants imprisoned in the corner, still trapped in their cages. Jeff hesitated a moment, mindful of the looming presence of Hazinarr behind him. But then, he relented, taking pity on the trapped prisoners. He approached the long line of low-slung cages, and gently placed Fracta on the ground. Drawing a sturdy hand-axe from his Storage Ring, he went from cage to cage, smashing the padlocks with swift, precise blows. Jeff smashed open the last cage and turned to face the crowd of released prisoners. He addressed them in an urgent tone. Sharkeys soldiers are fighting amongst themselves right now, but it wont be long before they regroup and come after us. I suggest you follow me and head to Tantalus Town immediately. As Jeff spoke, he realized that he had not formulated any concrete plan moving forward. His immediate priority was to get Fracta well, then somehow return to the Citadel and break through Sharkeys forces to reach the portal. The deadline for entry into the Elimination Rounds was fast approaching, heightening his sense of urgency. It suddenly dawned on him that he would need allies in the upcoming fight.